Adults of Reddit, what's the best advice you can give to teenagers?

Stop trying to grow up so fast. Enjoy being a kid just a bit longer. Don't let yourself peak in high school. Keep trying to better yourself Hug your parents more. One day they will be gone. Don't live your life through a screen. Put your phone down and turn the computer off sometimes. High school is just a tiny blip on the map of life. Don't stress over who said what or who is dating who, etc... it's truly not that important. Enjoy sleep. It's harder to get as you get older. Stand up for others. And be a good friend Most importantly... don't be a dick. Watching people suffer for likes or popularity will be your demise. You don't know what that person is already dealing with
— Drucilli

Don't care about what people will think of you, and do what you want, even if it might fail.
— hansfriedrich

Go for it. Just don't be an idiot. Want to start a band? Go for it. Want to play a sport? Go for it. Want to ask that girl out? Go for it. Want to travel? Get a job. Save some money and go for it. Want to make more friends? Go talk to people that have similar interests. Just fucking go for it. Oh and also. Wear a condom.
— ThatsBushLeague

Stay in school, learn to be good to others (even online), try your best, learn when to follow your heart and when to listen to your head, eat more vegetables but more importantly learn how to cook for yourself, try to read when you can, fail as gracefully as possible and stand up for yourself and others. But most importantly, remember that life can be hard. Try looking at the positives regardless of the situation and do your best to keep a good sense of humor whenever possible.
— friedmonster

First, everyone so far has written some cool things. I would add that be mindful of who you hang out with. The wrong people will always put you in bad situations where you don't know how to get out of or resolve. And have friends that are supportive in what you do. Also don't date anyone who has so much emotional baggage that they require a moving company! Let their problems be theirs and don't try to save the world.
— Fruitstripe68

You never "grow up". You feel the same human emotions at 35 as you do at 15. You do earn more wisdom and nuance as you go and you can apply those as different lenses to your new experiences. But ultimately you will be the same person. Don't waste any time waiting for your own sudden core personality shifts brought on by landmark achievements. That doesn't happen. Don't expect this imagined state of "adulthood" to spontaneously enter your life. Everything is a lot more gradual. Change is work. The type of change you want is mostly up to you. Enjoy your time as you are. Don't pressure yourself to reach that imagined state of "getting there". It doesn't exist. There is always here.
— Infiltrator41

You're not going to listen to me. Make your own mistakes and learn from them.
— Dos_Manos

Dear teenage Blip: Learn how to ask questions. Learn how to learn. Pull something apart and figure out how it works. Be less afraid of looking like a fool and messing something up. Anyone who matters won't care about it tomorrow. Any one who doesn't matter, then who cares? And for fuck sake.. Learn how to ask questions!!
— Blipnoodle

Go to college. It doesn't have to be some huge $40,000 a year tuition college. Just go to your community college. They have financial advisers that can help you get grants and stuff if your parents are unreliable. Go for the experience if nothing else. At least go so you know if it truly is or is not for you. Worst case scenario you've lost a half year of your life that you probably would have spent working in a factory or a fast food restaurant.
— imalittleC-3PO

protect your hearing. Carry around skin colored ear plugs for when you find yourself in a bar with a live band. I'm 43 and almost deaf with a constant ringing in my ears from being stupid as a teenager. I'd stand close to crazy loud speakers at concerts, wear headphones on full blast, be in live band bars all night. Dumb dumb dumb.
— pistonian

**Do stupid shit**, *not dangerous shit*. Examples: Date someone totally wrong for you, but use a condom. Break into the local pool to go skinny-dipping, but not if you're old enough to get a criminal record. Get drunk, not alcohol poisoning. Try weed, not cocaine. Sneak out at night, but leave a note. Drive a little too fast down a dirt road, don't drive drunk. Have a house party when your parents are out of town, don't be afraid to call the cops if people get rowdy. Act confident even after you get turned down by your crush, don't lash out at them and be a tool. Experiment sexually, but know what consent really means. Be impulsive, not reckless. When you're afraid to do something but your heart says go for it, *always go for it*. When you're afraid to do something and your heart says you or someone is in actual danger, or something is actually wrong with the situation, never do it. *Ever*.
— forbiddenway

Don't be an asshole to anyone. You will regret it someday, badly. Especially to your parents. That shit haunts you forever, because you will get pass the "parents are dumb" -phase and realize the meaning behind what they've done. Unless your parents are assholes.
— jarl_of_joensuu

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