Advice I would offer to my high school self

The other evening I was having dinner with a friend who graduated in the same high school class as me. Over drinks we began talking about the unsettling fact that this year will mark ten years since our graduation. After we said our goodbyes I sat for a while longer by myself, and thought of the changes that have occurred in my life in the ten years since I graduated high school.

At the top of this column are two pictures: On the left is a picture of me just after high school and the other was taken recently. In ten years I have made some changes in my life. No longer does my hair hang past my shoulder nor do I hold a nefarious urge to skateboard. Besides aesthetics, one of the biggest changes I have made in my life is my personality. I was a very shy kid, and often the simple act of speaking up in class would be an act of cruel and unusual punishment akin to watching the Twilight movies in consecutive order.

As I thought about myself as I was ten years ago, I posed myself a question: What advice would I give myself -- knowing everything I know now? What follows is six pieces of advice I would offer to my high school self.

1) Get a haircut. I know you think it looks cool, but you basically look like someone who has taken the damp end of a mop and placed it on your head. One of the sad truths of life is even though people should not judge you by your appearance, they do and plus, you look better with your hair short and combed back.

2) Enjoy falling in love and getting your heart broken. I know the latter part of this statement might sound slightly sadistic, but one of the great things about being in love is being able to be vulnerable with another person. When your relationships end, and they most certainly will, do not become jaded by your past experiences, instead be the perpetual optimist and the romantic.

3) Since I am talking to myself ten years ago in the past here is a tip: Invest in Apple and Google. You will thank me later.

4) Talk to the girl you had a crush on in high school. Though I will not mention her name, there is no sense in playing it safe with her. When you get older, sometimes in the late hours of the evening you begin to think of all the things you did not do, or wish you did. Try to minimize as many regrets as possible.

5) It's okay if you do not know what you want to do with the rest of your life. Since elementary school, your teachers and parents have incessantly asked you this question and you might be under the impression that this question gets easier to answer when you get older -- it doesn't. Today, I still cannot fully answer this question and most of your friends still struggle with this question.

6) Lastly, and this is very important, do not watch The Happening. The plants are killing the people of the town. There, I just saved you 15 dollars and two hours of your life. Really, it is an awful movie. I know you might not be inclined to listen to my advice, because if I remember myself correctly, you are more stubborn than I am today. And that is the final piece of advice I will offer you, stop being so stubborn and be open to advice and criticism, even though it is sometimes painful to hear.

Grant is a staff writer for the Greene County Daily World. He can be reached by telephone at (812) 847-4487, ext. 19. He can also be reached via email at gkarazsia@gmail.com.