Written for 13 to 17. If anything online or in real life ever worries you, talk to a parent, a teacher or another adult you trust. You will not be in trouble.
Do
Be the friend you'd want to have.
Loyal, kind, and able to keep a secret that isn't a dangerous one.
Tell a parent or a trusted adult when something feels off.
You will not be in trouble. Grown-ups are there for exactly this.
Try new things, even ones you might be bad at.
Being bad at something is step one of being good at it.
Get enough sleep.
Everything feels worse at 1 a.m., including whatever you are worried about.
Help around the house without being asked.
Your mom will wonder who replaced you. Enjoy it.
Invite the girl who's sitting alone.
You might make her whole year, and gain a great friend.
Learn to cook one good dinner.
Your family will be impressed, and you will feel like a grown-up for a night.
Save part of every dollar you earn.
Babysitting money adds up. So does the habit.
Keep a journal.
Future you will want to know what was so important in ninth grade.
Say thank you to your teachers.
Some of them buy the pencils for your class with their own money.
Wear your seatbelt, and make everyone in the car wear theirs.
Spend time with your grandparents.
They think you are wonderful. Some days you need that.
Practice the thing you love every day.
Talent is mostly practice that nobody saw.
Let your parents know where you are.
It is not about trust. It is love with a location.
Don't
Don't compare yourself to filtered photos.
That is not a face. That is an app.
Don't send any photo you wouldn't want your grandma to see.
Once it is sent, it belongs to everyone. If anyone asks you for one, tell a parent.
Don't stay in a group chat that's being mean to someone.
Leave it. Tell someone. Be brave, not popular.
Don't keep secrets for anyone online.
If someone online asks you to hide something from your parents, tell a grown-up today. You will not be in trouble.
Don't text and drive, ever.
No message is worth it. Pull over, or let it wait.
Don't stay up scrolling.
The app does not care if you are tired tomorrow. Your mom does.
Don't say mean things about how people look.
Kindness is always in style.
Don't be afraid to raise your hand in class.
Half the room has the same question. Be the brave one.
Don't give up on something after one bad try.
Don't roll your eyes at your mom.
She has a camera roll full of your baby pictures and is not afraid to use it.
Don't let a friend talk you into something that feels wrong.
"No thanks" is a full sentence.
Don't spend your babysitting money the day you earn it.
Wait a week. If you still want it, it is yours.
Don't forget to say thank you for the ride.
Gas is expensive, and so is patience.
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