18 things i learnt before i turned 18

1. If someone makes you happy stick with them, sometimes they may not treat you the way you want them too but they could in effect feel the same way about you.
2. You are not going to be the best at something the first time you try, stick at it, keep going! Practice makes perfect.
3. Life isn't a competition. Stop comparing yourself to others thinking you aren't pretty compered to someone else because thats not what matters.......... be confident in your own body. If you like something about yourself don't be ashamed about it. Don't compare your chapter 3 to someone else's chapter 25.
4. BE HAPPY. Cut negative people out of your life you don't need them however much you tell yourself you do.
5. Make time for others and treat them like you would like to be treated. Yes it may hurt when people don't treat you the same way but in the end they will regret letting you go.
6. Enjoy something when you have it, you don't know when it could end so enjoy it while it lasts and don't push anything. As my lecturer once said why impose meaning on something that has  no meaning ?
7. Don't say anything after 1am if you are mad, think it over and say it in the morning. Avoid pointless arguments.
8. Put yourself out there. The friends you make for life could be someone you don't expect to even talk to.
9. Keep healthy. Work out, eat regularly, sleep well.
10. Do not stress about that recommended reading, its recommended for a reason you will not fail your course if you don't read it. If you can't cope give it a miss for a while.
11. Always make time for family, they will always be there for you.
12. Sometimes your friends can be wrong and you need to make your own opinion on a situation or you will regret it. They are looking out for you but only you know the circumstances.
13. Keep your guard high enough so you don't get hurt when someone unexpectedly walks out of your life. However life will go on.
14. Appreciate the small things in life and smile at them. Make others smile as much as possible.
15. Listen to crappy music and dance around your room like an idiot. No one is watching and no one cares at the end of the day.
16. Don't plan your life out. Yes a rough outline is good but in the long run everything can change. At the start of uni you could be doing a course but at the end of uni be entering a completely different career path.
17. Your life is not and will never be your favourite romantic comedy so do not expect it to be all happiness. 
18. Be yourself, don't change yourself to please others. Individuality is the best quality you can have.

Lauren x