2007-04-14 - 9:52 a.m.

...advice to my 19-year-old self....

A friend of mine gave me an interesting turn on the phrase, "if I had to do it all over again." Instead he suggested, "write a letter to your 19-year-old self and give her advice." I wonder how that would work:

1. Your body is great. Believe it, enjoy it, use it.
2. You are smart, but you have tons more to learn. That's the best part about growing older. You get to keep learning. Please don't forget to be respectful of what others have learned and experienced - and ask them.
3. Oh, and pay closer attention in your statistics and math classes! You really will need that stuff later in life.
4. Spend time with your relatives. Try to ask them at least one question about their lives when you visit them. Listen to their answers. Learn where they - and therefore YOU - came from. Many of them will be gone forever in ten years.
5. Your boyfriend right now is sleeping around. It will hurt you to lose him, but you will survive it, be happier, and even become friends with him again.
6. But please don't sleep with that grad student who TA'd your class - you and he will both regret it.
7. Don't be afraid of travel and opportunity because of money. There's always a way. Look for a way.
8. Don't be afraid that you won't figure out what you want to do. You will. And then you will change your mind several times, and go on to do things that you never expected. And it will all be okay.
9. Don't be afraid.
10. It will all be okay.