After reading Kobe Bryant's open letter to his 17 year-old self, it made me think about all of the things I wish I had known then, that I know now. I think about all of the mistakes I could've avoided and all of the things that I could've done better. I also think about everything that happened when I was 17 years-old that shaped me into the person I am today and all of the hard lessons that I had to endure, which have ultimately given me valuable life experiences that I will take with me for the rest of my days, and pass them on to my children, nieces and nephews.
You see, when I was a teenager, I didn't really have anyone offering up sound advice. My parents were still pretty young themselves... late 30's, early 40's so they were living their lives plus I was raised as an only child. My friends provided me with advice which is laughable because we were experiencing the same exact things. Their advice was no better than the advice I could offer them. We were young and although we thought we knew everything, we knew NOTHING. As the old folks would say, we were still wet behind the ears.
I needed someone to tell me that the fun would come later and school was more important than anything else I was doing. I needed someone to tell me how important it was for a young girl to hold on to her virginity for as long as she could (until marriage would've been ideal). I needed someone to teach me to save money, monitor my credit, and not to accept credit cards before age 25.
Thankfully, I managed to dig myself out of some sticky situations and get back on the right track. Now, at age 40 1/2 (I'll turn 41 in 3 days, yaaay me!) I am a Master's degree holder. I have traveled and I've had some of the most amazing opportunities that were simply meant for me, opportunities that many dream of. I've even met President Obama and Oprah Winfrey. As bad as I want them, I have no children (I have no husband either so it kinda' works out lol)... And overall, I am a very happy person and I'm excited about my future.
Out of all of the lessons I have learned, I would tell my younger self: "Shaneen, you are amazing and the future is so bright! All you have to do is STAY FOCUSED... Set goals and work hard to achieve them. Live like a 17 year-old should but to set yourself apart from everyone else and focus on what you want for the future... so maybe you won't have to jump so many hurdles to get to where I am today."
If you could talk to your younger self, what would you say and what advice would you give?
Check out this awesome song: Dear Younger Self
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