The Alphabet of Advice from a High School Senior

A: Aspire to be a giver. A giver of love, a giver of good vibes, and a giver of strength.

B: Be the change you wish to see in the world.

C: Confidence is not, “They will like me.” Confidence is, “I’ll be fine if they don’t.”

D: Do not dwell in the past. Do not dream of the future. Concentrate your mind in the present moment.

E: Everyone wants happiness, nobody wants pain. But you can’t have a rainbow without a little rain.

F: Falling in love is like jumping off of a really tall building. Your head tells you, “Idiot you’re going to die.” But your heart tells you, “Don’t worry, you can fly.”

G: Growth is painful, and change is painful. But nothing is as painful as staying stuck somewhere that you don’t belong.

H: Hard times are often blessings in disguise. Let go and let life strengthen you. No matter how much it hurts, hold your head up and keep going.

I: I think we like to complicate things when it is really quite simple. Find what it is that makes you happy and who it is that makes you happy, and you’re set.

J: Judging a person does not define who they are. It defines who you are.

K: Knowledge is like a garden. If it is not cultivated, then it cannot be harvested.

L: Love yourself and be proud of everything that you do, even your mistakes because mistakes mean you’re trying.

M: Memories are timeless treasures of the heart.

N: No one can go back and make a brand new start, but anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.

O: Owning your story is the bravest thing you will ever do.

P: Pain is only temporary, no matter how long it may last.

Q: Quotations say more about us than about the stories and people we’re quoting.

R: Respect yourself enough to walk away from anything that no longer serves you, grows you, or makes you happy.

S: Sometimes you don’t realize your own strength until you come face to face with your greatest weakness.

T: Time is free, but it is priceless. You can’t own it, but you can use it. You can’t keep it, but you can spend it. Once you’ve lost it, you can never get it back.

U: Understanding is much deeper than knowledge. There are many people that know us, but very few who understand us.

V: Value in life is not in what you get but in what you become.

W: Walking away has nothing to do with weakness, and everything to do with strength.

X: Xylophone is spelled with an X, but it should be spelled with a Z.

Y: Yesterday is gone, and tomorrow may never come. Enjoy life today.

Z: Zebras are just horses that are ready to party.