To 18 Year Old Me | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

To 18 Year Old Me

Give Yourself Time

Morgan Keller
May 06, 2020
17
To 18 Year Old Me

To the old me,

Eighteen years old & scared to death of leaving her parents home for college. The old me who lacked confidence, didn't have a "tribe" of friends, hated meeting new people & the painfully awkward conversations that occur when meeting someone new. To the old me who had (and still has) chronic RBF, the old me who started out unapproachable because she was afraid of being judged & disliked. To the old me suffering from mental health issues while dealing with her transition into young adulthood in a new city & being afraid of asking for help.

1. It's okay to be afraid, it wouldn't be something you really wanted if you weren't afraid of losing it.

2. Leave your home & your hometown. There's so much more out there in the world.

3. You're going to fail. Don't let it break you. Pick back up & start again.

4. Put yourself first, choose the career you want for yourself, the one that will bring you the most joy & happiness for your lifetime. Even if it's not the choice that makes you lots of money in the end.

5. Live the life you want to live. Not everyone will agree with every choice you make, the best part is... it's your life, not theirs.

6. Love yourself.

7. Don't be afraid to ask for help.

8. Be patient with yourself & stick up for yourself.

9. Don't let something minuscule destroy your relationships & friendships with people who matter to you.

10. Let yourself make mistakes & learn from them.

11. Be confident in yourself & your abilities. You're far more able then you believe.

12. Don't let anyone make you feel bad for being unapologetically yourself.

13. Stop planning everything. Live in the moment.

14. Give yourself time.

This isn't anywhere near how I thought my last semester of my undergraduate degree would go but my college career and where I'm at in life hasn't gone according to the plan 18 year old me had so thoughtfully mapped out. I've learned so much over the last 5 years since high school, all things I wish I could have told myself back then. So, for all of you who are newly 18 years old, ready to leave their childhood homes, you can do it.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

5 Things To Do That Are Better Than Writing A Paper

Don't waste your time trying to write that paper when there are so many more interesting things you could be doing.

UCLA
7226
computer keyboard
Unsplash

Writing a paper is never fun and is rarely rewarding. The writer's block, the page requirement, be specific, but don’t summarize, make sure you fixed any grammatical errors, did you even use spellcheck? and analyze, analyze, analyze.

Papers can be a major pain. They take up so much time and effort that by the end of the process you hate yourself and you hate the professor for making life so difficult. Questions of your existence start roaming in your mind. Am I even cut out for college if I can’t write a single paper? Am I even capable of taking care of myself if I lack the energy to open my laptop and start typing?

Keep Reading...Show less
writing papers
Relationships

10 Reasons Why Sisters Are The Best

Who could be a better friend than your own sister?

Perryville, MD
4365
sisters
Taylor Hooper

I can barely remember back when I was the only child. Most would say it’s because it is extremely difficult to remember things as a toddler but I would say it's because I was bored until my sister came along. My mother always says how important the "sister bond" is and with every year that passes I realize how right she is. Instead of writing a novel about all of the wonderful things there are about having a sister I decided to list a few of them instead.

Keep Reading...Show less
sisters
Student Life

How To Adult

You're gonna make it after all.

Muskingum University
5124
how to adult
Twitter

It is the time of our lives that we are beginning to enter the adult world and most of us, if not all of us, have no idea what we are doing. It's like starting a video game, but skipping the tutorial. We're all just running around aimlessly hoping we accidentally do something right that moves us along the right path. Now that graduation has just happened, or is right around the corner for some of us, it's time to start thinking about how we are going to take care of ourselves once we are on our own.

Keep Reading...Show less
adulting
Lifestyle

7 Signs You're A Starbucks Addict

I'll be the first one to admit I'm addicted to Starbucks.

Regis University
3078
drinking coffee
Tumblr

If you’re anything like me, you love a good cup of coffee. My coffee always comes from Starbucks; I refuse to drink it from anywhere else. Over the years, it’s become one of my biggest addictions. So, if you are aware that you’re a Starbucks addict as well, or maybe you need to check to see if you’re an addict, here are seven ways to tell.

Keep Reading...Show less
starbucks
Student Life

6 Ways to Float Through Life

College Edition.

SUNY Binghamton
4252
people in library
Photo by redcharlie on Unsplash

College involves a whirlwind of emotions, whether it’s from the stress of an assignment (or twenty), or from fighting with your roommate. It can be overwhelming at times and it’s important to take a step a back and calmly think things over. Maybe gain some perspective. The following aren’t foolproof tips and may not apply to you, but I was able to find success with them (hope you do too!)

Keep Reading...Show less
college tips

Trending Topics

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments