Before I watch a new movie, I look up the plot on Wikipedia so I can know the ending. I spoil movies for myself. It’s not because I like to spoil it for everyone else or that I find comfort in having more knowledge than the person sitting next to me — it’s because I can’t stand the unknown.

The unknown scares the living crap out of me. So you can imagine how terrified I am to move over 1,000 miles away from the people I love and the only home I’ve ever known.

Unfortunately, the unknown is something that I have to accept, so here are the daily mantras I use to get me through:

Put the Phone Down

I was standing in the second row at The 1975 concert as the lead singer, Matty Healy, with a cigarette in one hand and a glass of wine in the other, uttered these words of wisdom that would forever alter the motivation behind my actions; We feel the need to validate our experiences.

He said that we as humans have a toxic mindset of, “If I don’t post it, then it didn’t happen, and it doesn’t matter.”

Whether we’re eating an açai bowl, hanging out with friends or watching the sunset, we can’t help but pull out our phones and post a picture to our Snapchat stories.

We allow things like social media to be the measure of our importance when instead, we should look to those

close to us for validation.
No number of posts online can

replace the authenticity and comfort of real-life people and experiences. You only have one life — don’t live it through a screen.

Defy Expectations

I was born with speech delay, A.D.H.D., Panic Disorder and General Anxiety Disorder.

These disabilities are nothing I’m ashamed of or prone to hide, but they have caused many barriers in my life.

As a kid, I was severely shy, had huge mood swings and was unable to learn or communicate.

My childhood therapist predicted I would never make friends or make it to my high school graduation.

It would have been easy to have accepted this fate, to not push for greater things and be content with this limited forecast of a future. Fortunately, I took the more difficult path.

Despite an angsty teenage rebellious phase my freshman year, I worked hard, and now I get to walk across a stage next week and accept my diploma. It’s not easy to defy expectations, but you’ll never achieve great things if you don’t.

Let things go

Life sucks — it has good moments, but it can really suck.

You lose friends and family, stray from interests you previously loved and fall victim to the overwhelming pressure placed on you.

You pull all-nighters just to fail your history test. You stand up for your friends just for them to later stab you

in the back. You devote all your time to one sport just to be cut from the team.

Life is filled with sorrow, stress and struggle, but what you do with that hurt is more important than the hurt itself.

You could ruminate endlessly about the past and something that cannot be changed, or you could re ect on the situation and move on.

Don’t waste your energy and wallow in the sorrow, heartbreak, stress or struggle — take a deep breath, and let it go.

Take Risks

Get the tattoo your mom swears you will regret. Reach out to the childhood friend you’ve lost touch with. Take the AP class that intimidates you. Apply to the college of your dreams.

My point is, take risks.

This is the only time of your life that your mistakes and spontaneous acts
can be blamed on you being a teenager. This is the time to be reckless, unorganized and impulsive.

Your entire adult life will present you with opportunities to act responsible and mannerly, so be a crazy teenager while you still can.