April 2024
Paige Nelson
WHAT I WISH I KNEW AT SEVENTEEN
I'm Only 17 I Don't Know Anything
Seventeen is such a unique age with so many shaping experiences. There’s a reason why so many songs talk about being 17, so many movies are about 17 year olds, and so many authors make their characters 17. However, with this exciting and pivotal time comes a lot of growth, learning, and hardship. Now, in my early 20s, I wonder what would have been different if I knew what I know now, when I was 17.
What I Know Now
Let me just say, if I could go back in time and tell myself these things, I wouldn’t. I cherish the growth that God gave me and the timing of the lessons I learned. However, I still want to share these lessons because if you’re 17 they might help you to be a more confident, wise, and loving woman.
"Get out of bed. Do things. Own your life!"
1. You’ll look back at difficult times and be grateful for the growth.
I know that everybody says this and it’s so cliche, but it’s true! There were SO many life-ending moments that I had at 17 that ended up irrelevant or great moments of growth. That friend that I lost? Growth. That one guy I had a crush on? Irrelevant. The job that I hated? Growth. Trust me in 4 years, you’ll be saying the exact same thing I am.
2. You bring something unique to the table
I’m not going to lie and say that just because I’m older means I am 100% confident in myself. Not at all. I’ll probably struggle with comparison forever. However, I’ve found a lot more love for myself when I realized that I bring something unique to the table. There will always be someone more talented, more attractive, more athletic. However, nobody has each of the skills you do, the look you do, the heart you do. You’re completely unique and you’re going to find people who truly cherish that.
3. The first step changes everything
This is definitely the biggest lesson I’ve learned over the years. The gym? The first workout is always the hardest. Making new friends? Reaching out can give you a life-long friendship. That guy you like? Could have the same feelings for you. The assignment that feels overwhelming? Not gonna get easier until you start. The point is, you never know what’s going to happen unless you take that first step, but until you do, you’re always going to wonder or feel worse than if you just began.
4. SAVE YOUR MONEY!
Y’all when I tell you that I worked like 30 hrs/week in high school and saved basically nothing. It’s my biggest regret! I could have had so much money saved if I just realized how important it was and that’s why I’m here to tell you PLEASE save your money. You’ll thank me later when you can pay for your school, your car, or even just get a coffee.
All that being said, there are so many things that you are going to learn over the years, so many hardships that you’ll grow through, and so many moments that will shape you. However, these four lessons would have absolutely changed who I was at 17 and who I am now at 21. Again, I don’t regret the time where I learned and grew, but these lessons are SO important. They’re going to give you peace, self-love, confidence, and hopefully money!
