When I was a teenager, there were random times when I just searched on YouTube “tips for teens” or “advice for teenagers”, and things related to that.
How time flies so fast that I am no longer a teen anymore and I think I am in a place now where I can somehow give my own personal advice to teenagers just because I’ve been in their place already.
Well, the tips that I am going to give here are just based on my personal experiences and observations.
1. Don’t rush. Enjoy your youth!
Don’t rush to grow up immediately. Don’t rush to become an adult because it will just happen. Dress up according to your age. Have fun with your friends as much as possible. Gora sa happy crush or puppy love ('wag lang masyadong tanga)!
Enjoy your youth!
2. Choose your friends wisely
Your network is your net worth.
You become the 5 persons you surround yourself with. If you always hang around with friends who do illegal stuff, you will most likely do it as well. If you always hang around with friends, who are into studying, you will most likely study as well and will be grade-conscious. If you always hang around with friends who love to gossip about other people’s lives, you will most likely be a marites, chismosa, or mosang.
Choose friends who will help you to become a better version of yourself. Those who are kind-hearted, think about their future by studying or improving a skill, and so on. Cut off toxic people.
3. Don’t get into any addiction – liquor, cigarettes, illegal drugs, etc.
All throughout my teenage life and until now that I am in my early 20s, I am so thankful that I didn’t get into liquor, cigarettes, illegal drugs, etc. They are expensive! Plus, I don’t get any benefit from them. Liquor will just give me headaches and give me a hangover, cigarettes will just destroy my lungs, destroy my teeth, make my lips dull, and so on, illegal drugs will probably just make me high and more so get me into trouble.
Well, when it comes to liquor, it’s fine to drink it occasionally and responsibly. When it comes to others, I don’t like engaging myself with them.
4. Have hobbies!
Having a hobby or hobbies is a good thing because it can prevent you from getting into the addictions that I've mentioned in number 3.
Your hobbies can be dancing, singing, sewing clothes, coding, editing photos or videos, designing, cooking, and so on.
You might also use your hobbies in the future for your side hustles and jobs. But it's also fine if you don't make it as your earning vehicle.
5. Don't get yourself pregnant or don't get others pregnant just yet
For the teenage girls, don't get yourself pregnant just yet.
For the teenage boys, don't get a girl pregnant just yet.
Tigilan nyo ako sa "baby is a blessing" na sinasabi ng mga tinotolerate ang teenage pregnancy! Hahaha.
Having a child bears so much responsibility. Hindi mo na lang responsibilidad ang sarili mo. Responsibilidad mo na rin ang bata na dinadala mo. Responsibilidad mo na din ang sarili mong pamilya.
And also, once you get yourself pregnant and have a baby, most of your freedom will be taken away from you. Your freedom to enjoy, have a lot of free time, freedom to spend your money on things that you want... those will most likely be taken away from you.
You will have less free time. Why? Because you need to take care of a child. You need to take care of your family. Unless you can afford to have a helper.
You will have less freedom when it comes to money as well. Why? Because you need to buy a lot of necessities first. Foods and your child's milk and foods, baby's clothes, baby's footwear, water, diapers, bottles, and the list goes on.
Another reason why not have a baby just yet? Kawawa ang mga magulang o ang guardian nyo. Let's admit it. Most teenage girls or boys who get themselves into having a child so early, ang mga magulang talaga nila ang sumasalo sa kanila. Iyon ang tumutulong para sa pag-aaruga sa pagbubuntis, sa panganganak, at kahit sa pagbuhay sa bata.
Have a child only when you can afford to have one. Have a child only when you know you are capable of the responsibilities. When you are mentally, emotionally, physically, and financially prepared.
Isa sa pinaka-mahalaga yung financial preparedness talaga. Ang pagbuo ng pamilya o ang pagbuo ng bata, hindi lang yan puro pagmamahal. Kailangan yan ng matinding pera.
At dapat din, emotionally and mentally prepared ka din. Baka may anger issues ka pala at di mo pa yun nasosolusyunan sa sarili mo, tapos mapasa mo pa sa pagpapalaki sa bata. Ang ending, magkaka-trauma ang bata. Kawawa naman.
If you are still a teenager and mapusok ka talaga at hindi mo maiwasan, then practice safe sex.
Ang haba nitong number 5. Hahaha. To summarize this, no to teenage pregnancy.
As I've said in #1, "Don't rush. Enjoy your youth!"
6. Learn financial literacy
There's a lot of financial literacy stuff for free online. Most especially on YouTube, doon lang din ako natuto.
I swear, learning about it earlier is so helpful for the adulting world.
Here are my recommended finance YouTubers: Filipina Finance Youtubers who Taught Me about Money
7. If you can, have a side hustle!
I started to have a side hustle when I was 17 years old. And I thank my 17 self for doing that.
To have a side hustle is just optional. But for me, it is really a nice experience so I recommend it to teenagers.
Choose a side hustle that you can somehow enjoy. There are so many options now with the help of the internet. You can do online selling, online content creation (like here on read.cash), and so much more.
Related articles:
I Earned ₱100,000+ as a Student
I Earned XX,XXX Money: Side Hustles Changed My Life
Why I Stopped My Online Clothing Business When Pandemic Hits
Closing Thoughts
As a 21-year-old that has been through teenage life already, those are my 7 pieces of advice to teenagers.
Here's some additional advice if the 7 pieces of advice aren't enough yet...
Live in the moment but also think about your future. ✨
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I write things that spike my interest such as finance, investing, kdrama, kpop, architecture, my learnings, and misadventures.
Maraming salamat sa pagbabasa at hanggang sa susunod na artikulo. Paalam!
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Date Published: June 27, 2022
Being in the right circle of friends is better than having the fake one