Twenty-two year-old you here.Things have been pretty manic over the last six years tbh. I'm not quite sure if you know yet, but that means 'to be honest'. If you did know, then text-speak wasn't just a fad, but replacing numbers for letters was. I'm pretty sure you already know that 'lol' doesn't mean 'lots of love', but my memory isn't that great. Anyway, as I was saying, things have been manic. I'm here to give you a few pointers, but I guess we should start off by clarifying some things.
Firstly, the good news. Guess what? You do go to University. Bad news? It's not your first choice. Remember that moment you discovered alcohol and college parties? Well, that definitely contributes to you not getting into Exeter, and it hurts for a few weeks. However, the next four years of your life will be spent at Surrey, having the absolute best time you could imagine (bar some of second year - but I'll let you discover that for yourself), and you will meet people who will know you better than you think you know yourself (lots of 'you's' there).
Secondly, you're going to discover a lot about yourself. The person you are now, will not be the person you are in six years time. Lots has changed, but I think it makes you a better person (although, I would say that, seeing as that person is present-day me). You will continue to be a right stubborn bastard, but just shrug that off as 'endearing' and get on with it.
Anyway... Those pointers. You won't be aware that lists are a 'thing' now. In 2013, a site called Buzzfeed will take up a lot of your time, and this is a chance for you to familiarise yourself with them. So here goes:
12 Things You Should Do, But Won't
- Don't worry as much. Yes, you over think things, and plans are great, but just try and be a bit more spontaneous. I don't exactly remember the mornings I woke up especially early to do work, but I do remember the night's I spent with my (your) best friends. And make sure you especially do this at the end of University.
- Be a bit more mature. Now, your stubborn self will think you're one of the most mature people you know. Guess what? You're not. A lot your problems will stem from the fact that you dealt with them in an immature way, which leads me to...
- Stop running away. There are a few things, particularly in your second year of Uni, that you will run away from. This will come back to hurt you. Now, I can't turn back time, but maybe you should just deal with the consequences head on. It won't be pretty, and it sure as hell won't be easy, but it will probably make things a lot less complicated as time goes by.
- Understand that some people come and go throughout life. But always try and maintain some level of contact with those who mean the most. They'll be the ones you miss.
- Surrey will shape you, but don't let it define you. Move on.
- Saying that, you will probably never find a place as magic as Rubix (but only after a few VK's and after midnight).
- Give yourself a break and stop rushing from project-to-project.
- Write more - you will regret not doing so in the future.
- Follow your instincts.
- Drink less coffee, drink more water.
- Make the most of family - not all of them are going to be around forever, and you will miss them so much when they're gone.
- It's fine to make mistakes, but rectify them afterwards.
So yeah, sixteen-year old you definitely will not stick to these, but it's worth a try.
Embrace education, second chances are incredibly rare.
Best wishes,
Your increasingly-cynical twenty-two year old self.
