Member-only story
How many times have you wished you could go back and talk to your teenage self?
The 5 Important Lessons I Wish I Had Learned Before Life Taught Me the Hard Way
Lessons I Wish I Had Known: Embracing Growth, Authenticity, and Self-Discovery
Looking back at my teenage years, from 16 to 19, my world felt both small and immense at the same time, like everything was at stake. The internal struggles I faced back then haven’t fully disappeared; they’ve simply evolved alongside me. But I wish someone had told me back then that those battles wouldn’t just vanish with time — they would shift, and I would learn to navigate them differently. Here are the lessons I wish I had known as a teenager, lessons that would have saved me from so much unnecessary pain.
1. Don’t Rush Into Relationships
Your youth is precious. I wish I had spent more time exploring life and less time consumed by relationships. When I moved to the Bay Area from Goa, India at 14, I felt lost. The bullying at school, the subtle critiques from family about my “FOB” (fresh-off-the-boat) style — it all made me incredibly self-conscious. I thought relationships were the quickest way to feel loved, to feel like I belonged. But I now…
