22 things I would like to say to the twelve-year-old ‘me’

I actually quite like getting older. Okay, I'm only 26 springs young, but I only now feel that I'm starting to become a bit more mature. Am I actually a late bloomer? Well, in middle school, I thought I knew it all, but nothing turned out to be less true. Most likely, I'll laugh at myself in ten years for this article and my know-it-all behavior.

Honestly, I never want to go back to that high school period. All those raging hormones, emotions I just couldn't place, and countless insecurities; I wouldn't miss them for anything. Yet, I learned a lot from it, even though the way I learned wasn't always pleasant. If I could give something to my twelve-year-old self, it would be the following things:

1. ‘Please stay away from those eyebrows.’
2. ‘Just leave that waffle iron alone.’
3. ‘You are not too sensitive, weak, or overemotional. Being highly sensitive is a gift. Amen.’
4. ‘There are many more fun jobs than training dolphins. They don't belong in an aquarium.’
5. ‘You're definitely going to change careers about twenty more times.’
6. ‘Never choose a subject package or study direction just because your friends are doing it too.’
7. ‘Don't listen too much to your parents regarding study choices, even if they mean well.’
8. ‘A broken heart is not the end of the world.’
9. ‘Your heart is going to get broken more often because you'll fall in love with someone else in no time.’
10. ‘Good news: everyone you are currently in love with you will find terrible in ten years.’
11. ‘All men are simple beings, even the ‘hunk’ of the school is just a normal guy.’
12. ‘Don't worry too much about those hips; before you know it, the Kardashians will make you happy about them.’
13. ‘Try to enjoy high school more. No matter how cliché it sounds, it's one of the most special times of your life.’
14. ‘Dive deep into bitcoins.’
15. ‘Don't go under the tanning bed weekly; that's really bad for you.’
16. ‘Moderate a bit with that self-tanner from Kruidvat.’
17.  ‘Keep all your belly chains and butterfly tops; you'll want to wear them again after watching the series Euphoria.’
18. ‘Believe it or not, those bags under your eyes will one day become a trend.’
19. ‘So many new people are going to come your way, so don't worry too much about friendships that end.’
20. ‘It's okay that you have no idea what you're doing; that will never really change.’
21. ’Never be ashamed if you have different interests than the rest. Explore it thoroughly and try everything out.’
22. ‘And don't forget the big dreams that you secretly find terrifying. GO GO GO.’