an essay about my life so far

My journey As a Student Essay

Essay on topic my journey as a student.

Introduction Lines

As a student, my journey so far has been full of challenges, growth, and self-discovery. I have learned a lot about myself, my abilities, and my passions. In this essay, I will reflect on my journey as a student, highlighting the milestones, struggles, and achievements that have shaped my academic life.

Body Paragraphs

My journey as a student started when I was in elementary school. I vividly remember the excitement and nervousness I felt on my first day of school. I was eager to learn and make new friends. As I progressed through the years, I encountered many challenges, such as adjusting to new teachers, making the transition from elementary to middle school, and learning how to manage my time effectively. Despite these challenges, I remained committed to my studies and continued to work hard to achieve good grades.

In high school, I faced a new set of challenges. The workload was more rigorous, and I had to balance academics with extracurricular activities and part-time work. During this time, I also discovered my passion for writing and became an active member of the school newspaper. This experience taught me the value of teamwork, communication, and leadership.

As I entered college, I was both excited and nervous. I knew that college would be a new and challenging experience, but I was determined to succeed. I quickly learned that college required a higher level of dedication, discipline, and self-motivation. I had to learn how to manage my time efficiently, prioritize my tasks, and seek help when needed. Despite the challenges, I thrived in college and became more confident in my abilities. I also discovered new interests and passions, such as studying abroad and volunteering in my community.

Conclusion:

My journey as a student has been a remarkable experience. It has taught me valuable life skills, such as perseverance, time management, and teamwork. I have learned to adapt to new situations and challenges, and to never give up on my dreams. I am grateful for the opportunities I have had and for the people who have supported me along the way. As I continue my academic journey, I am excited to see where it will take me and what new experiences and challenges I will encounter.

Hello! Welcome to my Blog StudyParagraphs.co. My name is Angelina. I am a college professor. I love reading writing for kids students. This blog is full with valuable knowledge for all class students. Thank you for reading my articles.

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How to Write a Story About My Life Essay

Your life story is a unique tapestry of experiences, emotions, and milestones. Here's a guide on weaving these elements into a compelling narrative:

How do I write a story about my life essay? Writing about your life is an introspective journey. Reflect on milestones such as: "In 2005, my family embarked on a cross-country move from New York to California. This was not just a physical journey, but an emotional one as we navigated cultural shifts and personal growth."

How do you write a life story example? Narrative snippets can bring your essay to life. Consider: "Amid the aroma of my grandmother's kitchen, where the scent of fresh-baked bread intertwined with stories of her youth in Italy, I realized the importance of preserving family narratives."

How do you write a story essay? For instance: "As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden hue over our beach campfire, my friend Sarah started narrating her unexpected escapade in the jungles of Borneo. With every twist and turn, we were gripped, realizing that sometimes life's best stories are unplanned."

What is life simple essay? Life's moments can be captured in simple narratives. Reflect upon: "Last winter, while walking my dog Max, we came across a frozen pond. Watching children gleefully slide across it, I was reminded of life's fleeting moments of joy and the importance of seizing them."

How do you write a short life story about yourself? Begin with defining moments: "When I was ten, I found a wounded bird in our backyard. Nursing it back to health didn't just kindle my love for animals but taught me compassion and patience."

How can I write about myself example? Use varied experiences: "From scaling the rocky terrains of Colorado, immersing myself in the bustling streets of Tokyo, to teaching underprivileged kids in my hometown, each experience has crafted a chapter of my ever-evolving life story."

What is our story? "In college, Lisa and I teamed up for a project on Renaissance art. Not only did we ace it, but our shared admiration for art and culture fostered a bond that turned two classmates into lifelong friends."

How do you start an interesting story example? Set the scene vividly: "It was on a cold, foggy night in London when I stumbled upon an old bookstore. Little did I know, this store harbored secrets that would lead me on a whirlwind adventure."

How do you write a successful story? Use emotions to captivate: "As Maria gazed upon the old photograph, tears welled up in her eyes. It wasn't just an image; it was a time capsule transporting her back to summers spent at her grandparents' cottage."

How do you write an example essay? Support your arguments with real-life instances: "In arguing the importance of community, I often reflect on the time my neighbors came together post a hurricane, showcasing unity and resilience."

What life means to me example? "Life, for me, is a mosaic of memories – from the giggles shared over childhood pranks to the solace found in solitary walks during challenging times."

Frequently Asked Questions

• What makes a personal life story essay engaging? True stories resonate best. Pouring genuine emotions, raw experiences, and candid reflections into your narrative makes it universally relatable.
• How can I avoid making my life story essay sound boastful? Maintain a balance. Celebrate achievements, but also shed light on challenges, lessons learned, and moments of vulnerability.
• What tense should I use when writing my life story? Past tense is often used, but present tense can create immediacy when sharing thoughts.
• How personal should I get in my life story essay? Authenticity is engaging, but set boundaries on details you share.
• Is chronological order essential in a life essay? Not necessarily. Chronology provides clarity, but thematic or importance-based sequencing can be impactful.
• Can I incorporate dialogues in my life story essay? Absolutely! Dialogues make moments come alive and give insights into character dynamics.
• Should I conclude with a lesson in my life story? Ending with a reflection or lesson provides closure and a takeaway for readers.

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How to Write a Life Story Essay

Last Updated: April 14, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Alicia Cook . Alicia Cook is a Professional Writer based in Newark, New Jersey. With over 12 years of experience, Alicia specializes in poetry and uses her platform to advocate for families affected by addiction and to fight for breaking the stigma against addiction and mental illness. She holds a BA in English and Journalism from Georgian Court University and an MBA from Saint Peter’s University. Alicia is a bestselling poet with Andrews McMeel Publishing and her work has been featured in numerous media outlets including the NY Post, CNN, USA Today, the HuffPost, the LA Times, American Songwriter Magazine, and Bustle. She was named by Teen Vogue as one of the 10 social media poets to know and her poetry mixtape, “Stuff I’ve Been Feeling Lately” was a finalist in the 2016 Goodreads Choice Awards. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 104,427 times.

A life story essay involves telling the story of your life in a short, nonfiction format. It can also be called an autobiographical essay. In this essay, you will tell a factual story about some element of your life, perhaps for a college application or for a school assignment.

Preparing to Write Your Essay

• If you are writing a personal essay for a college application, it should serve to give the admissions committee a sense of who you are, beyond the basics of your application file. Your transcript, your letters of recommendation, and your resume will provide an overview of your work experience, interests, and academic record. Your essay allows you to make your application unique and individual to you, through your personal story. [2] X Research source
• The essay will also show the admissions committee how well you can write and structure an essay. Your essay should show you can create a meaningful piece of writing that interests your reader, conveys a unique message, and flows well.
• If you are writing a life story for a specific school assignment, such as in a composition course, ask your teacher about the assignment requirements.

• Include important events, such as your birth, your childhood and upbringing, and your adolescence. If family member births, deaths, marriages, and other life moments are important to your story, write those down as well.
• Focus on experiences that made a big impact on you and remain a strong memory. This may be a time where you learned an important life lesson, such as failing a test or watching someone else struggle and succeed, or where you felt an intense feeling or emotion, such as grief over someone’s death or joy over someone’s triumph.

• Have you faced a challenge in your life that you overcame, such as family struggles, health issues, a learning disability, or demanding academics?
• Do you have a story to tell about your cultural or ethnic background, or your family traditions?
• Have you dealt with failure or life obstacles?
• Do you have a unique passion or hobby?
• Have you traveled outside of your community, to another country, city, or area? What did you take away from the experience and how will you carry what you learned into a college setting?

• Remind yourself of your accomplishments by going through your resume. Think about any awards or experiences you would like spotlight in your essay. For example, explaining the story behind your Honor Roll status in high school, or how you worked hard to receive an internship in a prestigious program.
• Remember that your resume or C.V. is there to list off your accomplishments and awards, so your life story shouldn't just rehash them. Instead, use them as a jumping-off place to explain the process behind them, or what they reflect (or do not reflect) about you as a person.

• The New York Times publishes stellar examples of high school life story essays each year. You can read some of them on the NYT website. [8] X Research source

Writing Your Essay

• For example, you may look back at your time in foster care as a child or when you scored your first paying job. Consider how you handled these situations and any life lessons you learned from these lessons. Try to connect past experiences to who you are now, or who you aspire to be in the future.
• Your time in foster care, for example, may have taught you resilience, perseverance and a sense of curiosity around how other families function and live. This could then tie into your application to a Journalism program, as the experience shows you have a persistent nature and a desire to investigate other people’s stories or experiences.

• Certain life story essays have become cliche and familiar to admission committees. Avoid sports injuries stories, such as the time you injured your ankle in a game and had to find a way to persevere. You should also avoid using an overseas trip to a poor, foreign country as the basis for your self transformation. This is a familiar theme that many admission committees will consider cliche and not unique or authentic. [11] X Research source
• Other common, cliche topics to avoid include vacations, "adversity" as an undeveloped theme, or the "journey". [12] X Research source

• Try to phrase your thesis in terms of a lesson learned. For example, “Although growing up in foster care in a troubled neighborhood was challenging and difficult, it taught me that I can be more than my upbringing or my background through hard work, perseverance, and education.”
• You can also phrase your thesis in terms of lessons you have yet to learn, or seek to learn through the program you are applying for. For example, “Growing up surrounded by my mother’s traditional cooking and cultural habits that have been passed down through the generations of my family, I realized I wanted to discover and honor the traditions of other, ancient cultures with a career in archaeology.”
• Both of these thesis statements are good because they tell your readers exactly what to expect in clear detail.

• An anecdote is a very short story that carries moral or symbolic weight. It can be a poetic or powerful way to start your essay and engage your reader right away. You may want to start directly with a retelling of a key past experience or the moment you realized a life lesson.
• For example, you could start with a vivid memory, such as this from an essay that got its author into Harvard Business School: "I first considered applying to Berry College while dangling from a fifty-food Georgia pine tree, encouraging a high school classmate, literally, to make a leap of faith." [15] X Research source This opening line gives a vivid mental picture of what the author was doing at a specific, crucial moment in time and starts off the theme of "leaps of faith" that is carried through the rest of the essay.
• Another great example clearly communicates the author's emotional state from the opening moments: "Through seven-year-old eyes I watched in terror as my mother grimaced in pain." This essay, by a prospective medical school student, goes on to tell about her experience being at her brother's birth and how it shaped her desire to become an OB/GYN. The opening line sets the scene and lets you know immediately what the author was feeling during this important experience. It also resists reader expectations, since it begins with pain but ends in the joy of her brother's birth.
• Avoid using a quotation. This is an extremely cliche way to begin an essay and could put your reader off immediately. If you simply must use a quotation, avoid generic quotes like “Spread your wings and fly” or “There is no ‘I’ in ‘team’”. Choose a quotation that relates directly to your experience or the theme of your essay. This could be a quotation from a poem or piece of writing that speaks to you, moves you, or helped you during a rough time.

• Always use the first person in a personal essay. The essay should be coming from you and should tell the reader directly about your life experiences, with “I” statements.
• For example, avoid something such as “I had a hard time growing up. I was in a bad situation.” You can expand this to be more distinct, but still carry a similar tone and voice. “When I was growing up in foster care, I had difficulties connecting with my foster parents and with my new neighborhood. At the time, I thought I was in a bad situation I would never be able to be free from.”

• For example, consider this statement: "I am a good debater. I am highly motivated and have been a strong leader all through high school." This gives only the barest detail, and does not allow your reader any personal or unique information that will set you apart from the ten billion other essays she has to sift through.
• In contrast, consider this one: "My mother says I'm loud. I say you have to speak up to be heard. As president of my high school's debate team for the past three years, I have learned to show courage even when my heart is pounding in my throat. I have learned to consider the views of people different than myself, and even to argue for them when I passionately disagree. I have learned to lead teams in approaching complicated issues. And, most importantly for a formerly shy young girl, I have found my voice." This example shows personality, uses parallel structure for impact, and gives concrete detail about what the author has learned from her life experience as a debater.

• An example of a passive sentence is: “The cake was eaten by the dog.” The subject (the dog) is not in the expected subject position (first) and is not "doing" the expected action. This is confusing and can often be unclear.
• An example of an active sentence is: “The dog ate the cake.” The subject (the dog) is in the subject position (first), and is doing the expected action. This is much more clear for the reader and is a stronger sentence.

• Lead the reader INTO your story with a powerful beginning, such as an anecdote or a quote.
• Take the reader THROUGH your story with the context and key parts of your experience.
• End with the BEYOND message about how the experience has affected who you are now and who you want to be in college and after college.

Editing Your Essay

• For example, a sentence like “I struggled during my first year of college, feeling overwhelmed by new experiences and new people” is not very strong because it states the obvious and does not distinguish you are unique or singular. Most people struggle and feel overwhelmed during their first year of college. Adjust sentences like this so they appear unique to you.
• For example, consider this: “During my first year of college, I struggled with meeting deadlines and assignments. My previous home life was not very structured or strict, so I had to teach myself discipline and the value of deadlines.” This relates your struggle to something personal and explains how you learned from it.

• It can be difficult to proofread your own work, so reach out to a teacher, a mentor, a family member, or a friend and ask them to read over your essay. They can act as first readers and respond to any proofreading errors, as well as the essay as a whole.

Expert Q&A

You Might Also Like

• ↑ http://education.seattlepi.com/write-thesis-statement-autobiographical-essay-1686.html
• ↑ https://study.com/learn/lesson/autobiography-essay-examples-steps.html
• ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/fulfillment-any-age/201101/writing-compelling-life-story-in-500-words-or-less
• ↑ Alicia Cook. Professional Writer. Expert Interview. 11 December 2020.
• ↑ https://mycustomessay.com/blog/how-to-write-an-autobiography-essay.html
• ↑ https://www.ahwatukee.com/community_focus/article_c79b33da-09a5-11e3-95a8-001a4bcf887a.html
• ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/10/your-money/four-stand-out-college-essays-about-money.html
• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xY9AdFx0L4s
• ↑ https://www.medina-esc.org/Downloads/Practical%20Advice%20Writing%20College%20App%20Essay.pdf
• ↑ http://www.businessinsider.com/successful-harvard-business-school-essays-2012-11?op=1
• ↑ http://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/passive_sentences.htm

About This Article

A life story essay is an essay that tells the story of your life in a short, nonfiction format. Start by coming up with a thesis statement, which will help you structure your essay. For example, your thesis could be about the influence of your family's culture on your life or how you've grown from overcoming challenging circumstances. You can include important life events that link to your thesis, like jobs you’ve worked, friendships that have influenced you, or sports competitions you’ve won. Consider starting your essay with an anecdote that introduces your thesis. For instance, if you're writing about your family's culture, you could start by talking about the first festival you went to and how it inspired you. Finish by writing about how the experiences have affected you and who you want to be in the future. For more tips from our Education co-author, including how to edit your essay effectively, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Follow YES! For Teachers

Eight brilliant student essays on what matters most in life.

Read winning essays from our spring 2019 student writing contest.

For the spring 2019 student writing contest, we invited students to read the YES! article “Three Things That Matter Most in Youth and Old Age” by Nancy Hill. Like the author, students interviewed someone significantly older than them about the three things that matter most in life. Students then wrote about what they learned, and about how their interviewees’ answers compare to their own top priorities.

The Winners

From the hundreds of essays written, these eight were chosen as winners. Be sure to read the author’s response to the essay winners and the literary gems that caught our eye. Plus, we share an essay from teacher Charles Sanderson, who also responded to the writing prompt.

Middle School Winner: Rory Leyva

High School Winner:  Praethong Klomsum

University Winner:  Emily Greenbaum

Powerful Voice Winner: Amanda Schwaben

Powerful Voice Winner: Antonia Mills

Powerful Voice Winner:  Isaac Ziemba

Powerful Voice Winner: Lily Hersch

“Tell It Like It Is” Interview Winner: Jonas Buckner

From the Author: Response to Student Winners

Literary Gems

From A Teacher: Charles Sanderson

From the Author: Response to Charles Sanderson

Middle School Winner

Village Home Education Resource Center, Portland, Ore.

The Lessons Of Mortality 

“As I’ve aged, things that are more personal to me have become somewhat less important. Perhaps I’ve become less self-centered with the awareness of mortality, how short one person’s life is.” This is how my 72-year-old grandma believes her values have changed over the course of her life. Even though I am only 12 years old, I know my life won’t last forever, and someday I, too, will reflect on my past decisions. We were all born to exist and eventually die, so we have evolved to value things in the context of mortality.

One of the ways I feel most alive is when I play roller derby. I started playing for the Rose City Rollers Juniors two years ago, and this year, I made the Rosebud All-Stars travel team. Roller derby is a fast-paced, full-contact sport. The physicality and intense training make me feel in control of and present in my body.

My roller derby team is like a second family to me. Adolescence is complicated. We understand each other in ways no one else can. I love my friends more than I love almost anything else. My family would have been higher on my list a few years ago, but as I’ve aged it has been important to make my own social connections.

Music led me to roller derby.  I started out jam skating at the roller rink. Jam skating is all about feeling the music. It integrates gymnastics, breakdancing, figure skating, and modern dance with R & B and hip hop music. When I was younger, I once lay down in the DJ booth at the roller rink and was lulled to sleep by the drawl of wheels rolling in rhythm and people talking about the things they came there to escape. Sometimes, I go up on the roof of my house at night to listen to music and feel the wind rustle my hair. These unique sensations make me feel safe like nothing else ever has.

My grandma tells me, “Being close with family and friends is the most important thing because I haven’t

always had that.” When my grandma was two years old, her father died. Her mother became depressed and moved around a lot, which made it hard for my grandma to make friends. Once my grandma went to college, she made lots of friends. She met my grandfather, Joaquin Leyva when she was working as a park ranger and he was a surfer. They bought two acres of land on the edge of a redwood forest and had a son and a daughter. My grandma created a stable family that was missing throughout her early life.

My grandma is motivated to maintain good health so she can be there for her family. I can relate because I have to be fit and strong for my team. Since she lost my grandfather to cancer, she realizes how lucky she is to have a functional body and no life-threatening illnesses. My grandma tries to eat well and exercise, but she still struggles with depression. Over time, she has learned that reaching out to others is essential to her emotional wellbeing.  

Caring for the earth is also a priority for my grandma I’ve been lucky to learn from my grandma. She’s taught me how to hunt for fossils in the desert and find shells on the beach. Although my grandma grew up with no access to the wilderness, she admired the green open areas of urban cemeteries. In college, she studied geology and hiked in the High Sierras. For years, she’s been an advocate for conserving wildlife habitat and open spaces.

Our priorities may seem different, but it all comes down to basic human needs. We all desire a purpose, strive to be happy, and need to be loved. Like Nancy Hill says in the YES! Magazine article “Three Things That Matter Most in Youth and Old Age,” it can be hard to decipher what is important in life. I believe that the constant search for satisfaction and meaning is the only thing everyone has in common. We all want to know what matters, and we walk around this confusing world trying to find it. The lessons I’ve learned from my grandma about forging connections, caring for my body, and getting out in the world inspire me to live my life my way before it’s gone.

Rory Leyva is a seventh-grader from Portland, Oregon. Rory skates for the Rosebuds All-Stars roller derby team. She loves listening to music and hanging out with her friends.

High School Winner

Praethong Klomsum

  Santa Monica High School, Santa Monica, Calif.

Time Only Moves Forward

Sandra Hernandez gazed at the tiny house while her mother’s gentle hands caressed her shoulders. It wasn’t much, especially for a family of five. This was 1960, she was 17, and her family had just moved to Culver City.

Flash forward to 2019. Sandra sits in a rocking chair, knitting a blanket for her latest grandchild, in the same living room. Sandra remembers working hard to feed her eight children. She took many different jobs before settling behind the cash register at a Japanese restaurant called Magos. “It was a struggle, and my husband Augustine, was planning to join the military at that time, too.”

In the YES! Magazine article “Three Things That Matter Most in Youth and Old Age,” author Nancy Hill states that one of the most important things is “…connecting with others in general, but in particular with those who have lived long lives.” Sandra feels similarly. It’s been hard for Sandra to keep in contact with her family, which leaves her downhearted some days. “It’s important to maintain that connection you have with your family, not just next-door neighbors you talk to once a month.”

Despite her age, Sandra is a daring woman. Taking risks is important to her, and she’ll try anything—from skydiving to hiking. Sandra has some regrets from the past, but nowadays, she doesn’t wonder about the “would have, could have, should haves.” She just goes for it with a smile.

Sandra thought harder about her last important thing, the blue and green blanket now finished and covering

her lap. “I’ve definitely lived a longer life than most, and maybe this is just wishful thinking, but I hope I can see the day my great-grandchildren are born.” She’s laughing, but her eyes look beyond what’s in front of her. Maybe she is reminiscing about the day she held her son for the first time or thinking of her grandchildren becoming parents. I thank her for her time and she waves it off, offering me a styrofoam cup of lemonade before I head for the bus station.

The bus is sparsely filled. A voice in my head reminds me to finish my 10-page history research paper before spring break. I take a window seat and pull out my phone and earbuds. My playlist is already on shuffle, and I push away thoughts of that dreaded paper. Music has been a constant in my life—from singing my lungs out in kindergarten to Barbie’s “I Need To Know,” to jamming out to Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space” in sixth grade, to BTS’s “Intro: Never Mind” comforting me when I’m at my lowest. Music is my magic shop, a place where I can trade away my fears for calm.

I’ve always been afraid of doing something wrong—not finishing my homework or getting a C when I can do better. When I was 8, I wanted to be like the big kids. As I got older, I realized that I had exchanged my childhood longing for the 48 pack of crayons for bigger problems, balancing grades, a social life, and mental stability—all at once. I’m going to get older whether I like it or not, so there’s no point forcing myself to grow up faster.  I’m learning to live in the moment.

The bus is approaching my apartment, where I know my comfy bed and a home-cooked meal from my mom are waiting. My mom is hard-working, confident, and very stubborn. I admire her strength of character. She always keeps me in line, even through my rebellious phases.

My best friend sends me a text—an update on how broken her laptop is. She is annoying. She says the stupidest things and loves to state the obvious. Despite this, she never fails to make me laugh until my cheeks feel numb. The rest of my friends are like that too—loud, talkative, and always brightening my day. Even friends I stopped talking to have a place in my heart. Recently, I’ve tried to reconnect with some of them. This interview was possible because a close friend from sixth grade offered to introduce me to Sandra, her grandmother.  

I’m decades younger than Sandra, so my view of what’s important isn’t as broad as hers, but we share similar values, with friends and family at the top. I have a feeling that when Sandra was my age, she used to love music, too. Maybe in a few decades, when I’m sitting in my rocking chair, drawing in my sketchbook, I’ll remember this article and think back fondly to the days when life was simple.

Praethong Klomsum is a tenth-grader at Santa Monica High School in Santa Monica, California.  Praethong has a strange affinity for rhyme games and is involved in her school’s dance team. She enjoys drawing and writing, hoping to impact people willing to listen to her thoughts and ideas.

University Winner

Emily Greenbaum

Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 

The Life-Long War

Every morning we open our eyes, ready for a new day. Some immediately turn to their phones and social media. Others work out or do yoga. For a certain person, a deep breath and the morning sun ground him. He hears the clink-clank of his wife cooking low sodium meat for breakfast—doctor’s orders! He sees that the other side of the bed is already made, the dogs are no longer in the room, and his clothes are set out nicely on the loveseat.

Today, though, this man wakes up to something different: faded cream walls and jello. This person, my hero, is Master Chief Petty Officer Roger James.

I pulled up my chair close to Roger’s vinyl recliner so I could hear him above the noise of the beeping dialysis machine. I noticed Roger would occasionally glance at his wife Susan with sparkly eyes when he would recall memories of the war or their grandkids. He looked at Susan like she walked on water.

Roger James served his country for thirty years. Now, he has enlisted in another type of war. He suffers from a rare blood cancer—the result of the wars he fought in. Roger has good and bad days. He says, “The good outweighs the bad, so I have to be grateful for what I have on those good days.”

When Roger retired, he never thought the effects of the war would reach him. The once shallow wrinkles upon his face become deeper, as he tells me, “It’s just cancer. Others are suffering from far worse. I know I’ll make it.”

Like Nancy Hill did in her article “Three Things that Matter Most in Youth and Old Age,” I asked Roger, “What are the three most important things to you?” James answered, “My wife Susan, my grandkids, and church.”

Roger and Susan served together in the Vietnam war. She was a nurse who treated his cuts and scrapes one day. I asked Roger why he chose Susan. He said, “Susan told me to look at her while she cleaned me up. ‘This may sting, but don’t be a baby.’ When I looked into her eyes, I felt like she was looking into my soul, and I didn’t want her to leave. She gave me this sense of home. Every day I wake up, she makes me feel the same way, and I fall in love with her all over again.”

Roger and Susan have two kids and four grandkids, with great-grandchildren on the way. He claims that his grandkids give him the youth that he feels slowly escaping from his body. This adoring grandfather is energized by coaching t-ball and playing evening card games with the grandkids.

The last thing on his list was church. His oldest daughter married a pastor. Together they founded a church. Roger said that the connection between his faith and family is important to him because it gave him a reason to want to live again. I learned from Roger that when you’re across the ocean, you tend to lose sight of why you are fighting. When Roger returned, he didn’t have the will to live. Most days were a struggle, adapting back into a society that lacked empathy for the injuries, pain, and psychological trauma carried by returning soldiers. Church changed that for Roger and gave him a sense of purpose.

When I began this project, my attitude was to just get the assignment done. I never thought I could view Master Chief Petty Officer Roger James as more than a role model, but he definitely changed my mind. It’s as if Roger magically lit a fire inside of me and showed me where one’s true passions should lie. I see our similarities and embrace our differences. We both value family and our own connections to home—his home being church and mine being where I can breathe the easiest.

Master Chief Petty Officer Roger James has shown me how to appreciate what I have around me and that every once in a while, I should step back and stop to smell the roses. As we concluded the interview, amidst squeaky clogs and the stale smell of bleach and bedpans, I looked to Roger, his kind, tired eyes, and weathered skin, with a deeper sense of admiration, knowing that his values still run true, no matter what he faces.

Emily Greenbaum is a senior at Kent State University, graduating with a major in Conflict Management and minor in Geography. Emily hopes to use her major to facilitate better conversations, while she works in the Washington, D.C. area.  

Powerful Voice Winner

Amanda Schwaben

Wise Words From Winnie the Pooh

As I read through Nancy Hill’s article “Three Things That Matter Most in Youth and Old Age,” I was comforted by the similar responses given by both children and older adults. The emphasis participants placed on family, social connections, and love was not only heartwarming but hopeful. While the messages in the article filled me with warmth, I felt a twinge of guilt building within me. As a twenty-one-year-old college student weeks from graduation, I honestly don’t think much about the most important things in life. But if I was asked, I would most likely say family, friendship, and love. As much as I hate to admit it, I often find myself obsessing over achieving a successful career and finding a way to “save the world.”

A few weeks ago, I was at my family home watching the new Winnie the Pooh movie Christopher Robin with my mom and younger sister. Well, I wasn’t really watching. I had my laptop in front of me, and I was aggressively typing up an assignment. Halfway through the movie, I realized I left my laptop charger in my car. I walked outside into the brisk March air. Instinctively, I looked up. The sky was perfectly clear, revealing a beautiful array of stars. When my twin sister and I were in high school, we would always take a moment to look up at the sparkling night sky before we came into the house after soccer practice.

I think that was the last time I stood in my driveway and gazed at the stars. I did not get the laptop charger from

my car; instead, I turned around and went back inside. I shut my laptop and watched the rest of the movie. My twin sister loves Winnie the Pooh. So much so that my parents got her a stuffed animal version of him for Christmas. While I thought he was adorable and a token of my childhood, I did not really understand her obsession. However, it was clear to me after watching the movie. Winnie the Pooh certainly had it figured out. He believed that the simple things in life were the most important: love, friendship, and having fun.

I thought about asking my mom right then what the three most important things were to her, but I decided not to. I just wanted to be in the moment. I didn’t want to be doing homework. It was a beautiful thing to just sit there and be present with my mom and sister.

I did ask her, though, a couple of weeks later. Her response was simple.  All she said was family, health, and happiness. When she told me this, I imagined Winnie the Pooh smiling. I think he would be proud of that answer.

I was not surprised by my mom’s reply. It suited her perfectly. I wonder if we relearn what is most important when we grow older—that the pressure to be successful subsides. Could it be that valuing family, health, and happiness is what ends up saving the world?

Amanda Schwaben is a graduating senior from Kent State University with a major in Applied Conflict Management. Amanda also has minors in Psychology and Interpersonal Communication. She hopes to further her education and focus on how museums not only preserve history but also promote peace.

Antonia Mills

Rachel Carson High School, Brooklyn, N.Y. 

Decoding The Butterfly

For a caterpillar to become a butterfly, it must first digest itself. The caterpillar, overwhelmed by accumulating tissue, splits its skin open to form its protective shell, the chrysalis, and later becomes the pretty butterfly we all know and love. There are approximately 20,000 species of butterflies, and just as every species is different, so is the life of every butterfly. No matter how long and hard a caterpillar has strived to become the colorful and vibrant butterfly that we marvel at on a warm spring day, it does not live a long life. A butterfly can live for a year, six months, two weeks, and even as little as twenty-four hours.

I have often wondered if butterflies live long enough to be blissful of blue skies. Do they take time to feast upon the sweet nectar they crave, midst their hustling life of pollinating pretty flowers? Do they ever take a lull in their itineraries, or are they always rushing towards completing their four-stage metamorphosis? Has anyone asked the butterfly, “Who are you?” instead of “What are you”? Or, How did you get here, on my windowsill?  How did you become ‘you’?

Humans are similar to butterflies. As a caterpillar

Suzanna Ruby/Getty Images

becomes a butterfly, a baby becomes an elder. As a butterfly soars through summer skies, an elder watches summer skies turn into cold winter nights and back toward summer skies yet again.  And as a butterfly flits slowly by the porch light, a passerby makes assumptions about the wrinkled, slow-moving elder, who is sturdier than he appears. These creatures are not seen for who they are—who they were—because people have “better things to do” or they are too busy to ask, “How are you”?

Our world can be a lonely place. Pressured by expectations, haunted by dreams, overpowered by weakness, and drowned out by lofty goals, we tend to forget ourselves—and others. Rather than hang onto the strands of our diminishing sanity, we might benefit from listening to our elders. Many elders have experienced setbacks in their young lives. Overcoming hardship and surviving to old age is wisdom that they carry.  We can learn from them—and can even make their day by taking the time to hear their stories.  

Nancy Hill, who wrote the YES! Magazine article “Three Things That Matter Most in Youth and Old Age,” was right: “We live among such remarkable people, yet few know their stories.” I know a lot about my grandmother’s life, and it isn’t as serene as my own. My grandmother, Liza, who cooks every day, bakes bread on holidays for our neighbors, brings gifts to her doctor out of the kindness of her heart, and makes conversation with neighbors even though she is isn’t fluent in English—Russian is her first language—has struggled all her life. Her mother, Anna, a single parent, had tuberculosis, and even though she had an inviolable spirit, she was too frail to care for four children. She passed away when my grandmother was sixteen, so my grandmother and her siblings spent most of their childhood in an orphanage. My grandmother got married at nineteen to my grandfather, Pinhas. He was a man who loved her more than he loved himself and was a godsend to every person he met. Liza was—and still is—always quick to do what was best for others, even if that person treated her poorly. My grandmother has lived with physical pain all her life, yet she pushed herself to climb heights that she wasn’t ready for. Against all odds, she has lived to tell her story to people who are willing to listen. And I always am.

I asked my grandmother, “What are three things most important to you?” Her answer was one that I already expected: One, for everyone to live long healthy lives. Two, for you to graduate from college. Three, for you to always remember that I love you.

What may be basic to you means the world to my grandmother. She just wants what she never had the chance to experience: a healthy life, an education, and the chance to express love to the people she values. The three things that matter most to her may be so simple and ordinary to outsiders, but to her, it is so much more. And who could take that away?

Antonia Mills was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York and attends Rachel Carson High School.  Antonia enjoys creative activities, including writing, painting, reading, and baking. She hopes to pursue culinary arts professionally in the future. One of her favorite quotes is, “When you start seeing your worth, you’ll find it harder to stay around people who don’t.” -Emily S.P.  

  Powerful Voice Winner

   Isaac Ziemba

Odyssey Multiage Program, Bainbridge Island, Wash. 

This Former State Trooper Has His Priorities Straight: Family, Climate Change, and Integrity

I have a personal connection to people who served in the military and first responders. My uncle is a first responder on the island I live on, and my dad retired from the Navy. That was what made a man named Glen Tyrell, a state trooper for 25 years, 2 months and 9 days, my first choice to interview about what three things matter in life. In the YES! Magazine article “The Three Things That Matter Most in Youth and Old Age,” I learned that old and young people have a great deal in common. I know that’s true because Glen and I care about a lot of the same things.

For Glen, family is at the top of his list of important things. “My wife was, and is, always there for me. My daughters mean the world to me, too, but Penny is my partner,” Glen said. I can understand why Glen’s wife is so important to him. She’s family. Family will always be there for you.

Glen loves his family, and so do I with all my heart. My dad especially means the world to me. He is my top supporter and tells me that if I need help, just “say the word.” When we are fishing or crabbing, sometimes I

think, what if these times were erased from my memory? I wouldn’t be able to describe the horrible feeling that would rush through my mind, and I’m sure that Glen would feel the same about his wife.

My uncle once told me that the world is always going to change over time. It’s what the world has turned out to be that worries me. Both Glen and I are extremely concerned about climate change and the effect that rising temperatures have on animals and their habitats. We’re driving them to extinction. Some people might say, “So what? Animals don’t pay taxes or do any of the things we do.” What we are doing to them is like the Black Death times 100.

Glen is also frustrated by how much plastic we use and where it ends up. He would be shocked that an explorer recently dived to the deepest part of the Pacific Ocean—seven miles!— and discovered a plastic bag and candy wrappers. Glen told me that, unfortunately, his generation did the damage and my generation is here to fix it. We need to take better care of Earth because if we don’t, we, as a species, will have failed.

Both Glen and I care deeply for our families and the earth, but for our third important value, I chose education and Glen chose integrity. My education is super important to me because without it, I would be a blank slate. I wouldn’t know how to figure out problems. I wouldn’t be able to tell right from wrong. I wouldn’t understand the Bill of Rights. I would be stuck. Everyone should be able to go to school, no matter where they’re from or who they are.  It makes me angry and sad to think that some people, especially girls, get shot because they are trying to go to school. I understand how lucky I am.

Integrity is sacred to Glen—I could tell by the serious tone of Glen’s voice when he told me that integrity was the code he lived by as a former state trooper. He knew that he had the power to change a person’s life, and he was committed to not abusing that power.  When Glen put someone under arrest—and my uncle says the same—his judgment and integrity were paramount. “Either you’re right or you’re wrong.” You can’t judge a person by what you think, you can only judge a person from what you know.”

I learned many things about Glen and what’s important in life, but there is one thing that stands out—something Glen always does and does well. Glen helps people. He did it as a state trooper, and he does it in our school, where he works on construction projects. Glen told me that he believes that our most powerful tools are writing and listening to others. I think those tools are important, too, but I also believe there are other tools to help solve many of our problems and create a better future: to be compassionate, to create caring relationships, and to help others. Just like Glen Tyrell does each and every day.

Isaac Ziemba is in seventh grade at the Odyssey Multiage Program on a small island called Bainbridge near Seattle, Washington. Isaac’s favorite subject in school is history because he has always been interested in how the past affects the future. In his spare time, you can find Isaac hunting for crab with his Dad, looking for artifacts around his house with his metal detector, and having fun with his younger cousin, Conner.     

Lily Hersch

 The Crest Academy, Salida, Colo.

The Phone Call

Dear Grandpa,

In my short span of life—12 years so far—you’ve taught me a lot of important life lessons that I’ll always have with me. Some of the values I talk about in this writing I’ve learned from you.

Dedicated to my Gramps.

In the YES! Magazine article “Three Things That Matter Most in Youth and Old Age,” author and photographer Nancy Hill asked people to name the three things that mattered most to them. After reading the essay prompt for the article, I immediately knew who I wanted to interview: my grandpa Gil.      

My grandpa was born on January 25, 1942. He lived in a minuscule tenement in The Bronx with his mother,

father, and brother. His father wasn’t around much, and, when he was, he was reticent and would snap occasionally, revealing his constrained mental pain. My grandpa says this happened because my great grandfather did not have a father figure in his life. His mother was a classy, sharp lady who was the head secretary at a local police district station. My grandpa and his brother Larry did not care for each other. Gramps said he was very close to his mother, and Larry wasn’t. Perhaps Larry was envious for what he didn’t have.

Decades after little to no communication with his brother, my grandpa decided to spontaneously visit him in Florida, where he resided with his wife. Larry was taken aback at the sudden reappearance of his brother and told him to leave. Since then, the two brothers have not been in contact. My grandpa doesn’t even know if Larry is alive.         

My grandpa is now a retired lawyer, married to my wonderful grandma, and living in a pretty house with an ugly dog named BoBo.

So, what’s important to you, Gramps?

He paused a second, then replied, “Family, kindness, and empathy.”

“Family, because it’s my family. It’s important to stay connected with your family. My brother, father, and I never connected in the way I wished, and sometimes I contemplated what could’ve happened.  But you can’t change the past. So, that’s why family’s important to me.”

Family will always be on my “Top Three Most Important Things” list, too. I can’t imagine not having my older brother, Zeke, or my grandma in my life. I wonder how other kids feel about their families? How do kids trapped and separated from their families at the U.S.-Mexico border feel?  What about orphans? Too many questions, too few answers.

“Kindness, because growing up and not seeing a lot of kindness made me realize how important it is to have that in the world. Kindness makes the world go round.”

What is kindness? Helping my brother, Eli, who has Down syndrome, get ready in the morning? Telling people what they need to hear, rather than what they want to hear? Maybe, for now, I’ll put wisdom, not kindness, on my list.

“Empathy, because of all the killings and shootings [in this country.] We also need to care for people—people who are not living in as good circumstances as I have. Donald Trump and other people I’ve met have no empathy. Empathy is very important.”

Empathy is something I’ve felt my whole life. It’ll always be important to me like it is important to my grandpa. My grandpa shows his empathy when he works with disabled children. Once he took a disabled child to a Christina Aguilera concert because that child was too young to go by himself. The moments I feel the most empathy are when Eli gets those looks from people. Seeing Eli wonder why people stare at him like he’s a freak makes me sad, and annoyed that they have the audacity to stare.

After this 2 minute and 36-second phone call, my grandpa has helped me define what’s most important to me at this time in my life: family, wisdom, and empathy. Although these things are important now, I realize they can change and most likely will.

When I’m an old woman, I envision myself scrambling through a stack of storage boxes and finding this paper. Perhaps after reading words from my 12-year-old self, I’ll ask myself “What’s important to me?”

Lily Hersch is a sixth-grader at Crest Academy in Salida, Colorado. Lily is an avid indoorsman, finding joy in competitive spelling, art, and of course, writing. She does not like Swiss cheese.

  “Tell It Like It Is” Interview Winner

Jonas Buckner

KIPP: Gaston College Preparatory, Gaston, N.C.

Lessons My Nana Taught Me

I walked into the house. In the other room, I heard my cousin screaming at his game. There were a lot of Pioneer Woman dishes everywhere. The room had the television on max volume. The fan in the other room was on. I didn’t know it yet, but I was about to learn something powerful.

I was in my Nana’s house, and when I walked in, she said, “Hey Monkey Butt.”

I said, “Hey Nana.”

Before the interview, I was talking to her about what I was gonna interview her on. Also, I had asked her why I might have wanted to interview her, and she responded with, “Because you love me, and I love you too.”

Now, it was time to start the interview. The first

question I asked was the main and most important question ever: “What three things matter most to you and you only?”

She thought of it very thoughtfully and responded with, “My grandchildren, my children, and my health.”

Then, I said, “OK, can you please tell me more about your health?”

She responded with, “My health is bad right now. I have heart problems, blood sugar, and that’s about it.” When she said it, she looked at me and smiled because she loved me and was happy I chose her to interview.

I replied with, “K um, why is it important to you?”

She smiled and said, “Why is it…Why is my health important? Well, because I want to live a long time and see my grandchildren grow up.”

I was scared when she said that, but she still smiled. I was so happy, and then I said, “Has your health always been important to you.”

She responded with “Nah.”

Then, I asked, “Do you happen to have a story to help me understand your reasoning?”

She said, “No, not really.”

Now we were getting into the next set of questions. I said, “Remember how you said that your grandchildren matter to you? Can you please tell me why they matter to you?”

Then, she responded with, “So I can spend time with them, play with them, and everything.”

Next, I asked the same question I did before: “Have you always loved your grandchildren?” 

She responded with, “Yes, they have always been important to me.”

Then, the next two questions I asked she had no response to at all. She was very happy until I asked, “Why do your children matter most to you?”

She had a frown on and responded, “My daughter Tammy died a long time ago.”

Then, at this point, the other questions were answered the same as the other ones. When I left to go home I was thinking about how her answers were similar to mine. She said health, and I care about my health a lot, and I didn’t say, but I wanted to. She also didn’t have answers for the last two questions on each thing, and I was like that too.

The lesson I learned was that no matter what, always keep pushing because even though my aunt or my Nana’s daughter died, she kept on pushing and loving everyone. I also learned that everything should matter to us. Once again, I chose to interview my Nana because she matters to me, and I know when she was younger she had a lot of things happen to her, so I wanted to know what she would say. The point I’m trying to make is that be grateful for what you have and what you have done in life.

Jonas Buckner is a sixth-grader at KIPP: Gaston College Preparatory in Gaston, North Carolina. Jonas’ favorite activities are drawing, writing, math, piano, and playing AltSpace VR. He found his passion for writing in fourth grade when he wrote a quick autobiography. Jonas hopes to become a horror writer someday.

From The Author: Responses to Student Winners

Dear Emily, Isaac, Antonia, Rory, Praethong, Amanda, Lily, and Jonas,

Your thought-provoking essays sent my head spinning. The more I read, the more impressed I was with the depth of thought, beauty of expression, and originality. It left me wondering just how to capture all of my reactions in a single letter. After multiple false starts, I’ve landed on this: I will stick to the theme of three most important things.

The three things I found most inspirational about your essays:

You listened.

You connected.

We live in troubled times. Tensions mount between countries, cultures, genders, religious beliefs, and generations. If we fail to find a way to understand each other, to see similarities between us, the future will be fraught with increased hostility.

You all took critical steps toward connecting with someone who might not value the same things you do by asking a person who is generations older than you what matters to them. Then, you listened to their answers. You saw connections between what is important to them and what is important to you. Many of you noted similarities, others wondered if your own list of the three most important things would change as you go through life. You all saw the validity of the responses you received and looked for reasons why your interviewees have come to value what they have.

It is through these things—asking, listening, and connecting—that we can begin to bridge the differences in experiences and beliefs that are currently dividing us.

Individual observations

Each one of you made observations that all of us, regardless of age or experience, would do well to keep in mind. I chose one quote from each person and trust those reading your essays will discover more valuable insights.

“Our priorities may seem different, but they come back to basic human needs. We all desire a purpose, strive to be happy, and work to make a positive impact.” 

“You can’t judge a person by what you think , you can only judge a person by what you know .”

Emily (referencing your interviewee, who is battling cancer):

“Master Chief Petty Officer James has shown me how to appreciate what I have around me.”

Lily (quoting your grandfather):

“Kindness makes the world go round.”

“Everything should matter to us.”

Praethong (quoting your interviewee, Sandra, on the importance of family):

“It’s important to always maintain that connection you have with each other, your family, not just next-door neighbors you talk to once a month.”

“I wonder if maybe we relearn what is most important when we grow older. That the pressure to be successful subsides and that valuing family, health, and happiness is what ends up saving the world.”

“Listen to what others have to say. Listen to the people who have already experienced hardship. You will learn from them and you can even make their day by giving them a chance to voice their thoughts.”

I end this letter to you with the hope that you never stop asking others what is most important to them and that you to continue to take time to reflect on what matters most to you…and why. May you never stop asking, listening, and connecting with others, especially those who may seem to be unlike you. Keep writing, and keep sharing your thoughts and observations with others, for your ideas are awe-inspiring.

I also want to thank the more than 1,000 students who submitted essays. Together, by sharing what’s important to us with others, especially those who may believe or act differently, we can fill the world with joy, peace, beauty, and love.

We received many outstanding essays for the Winter 2019 Student Writing Competition. Though not every participant can win the contest, we’d like to share some excerpts that caught our eye:

Whether it is a painting on a milky canvas with watercolors or pasting photos onto a scrapbook with her granddaughters, it is always a piece of artwork to her. She values the things in life that keep her in the moment, while still exploring things she may not have initially thought would bring her joy.

—Ondine Grant-Krasno, Immaculate Heart Middle School, Los Angeles, Calif.

“Ganas”… It means “desire” in Spanish. My ganas is fueled by my family’s belief in me. I cannot and will not fail them. 

—Adan Rios, Lane Community College, Eugene, Ore.

I hope when I grow up I can have the love for my kids like my grandma has for her kids. She makes being a mother even more of a beautiful thing than it already is.

—Ashley Shaw, Columbus City Prep School for Girls, Grove City, Ohio

You become a collage of little pieces of your friends and family. They also encourage you to be the best you can be. They lift you up onto the seat of your bike, they give you the first push, and they don’t hesitate to remind you that everything will be alright when you fall off and scrape your knee.

— Cecilia Stanton, Bellafonte Area Middle School, Bellafonte, Pa.

Without good friends, I wouldn’t know what I would do to endure the brutal machine of public education.

—Kenneth Jenkins, Garrison Middle School, Walla Walla, Wash.

My dog, as ridiculous as it may seem, is a beautiful example of what we all should aspire to be. We should live in the moment, not stress, and make it our goal to lift someone’s spirits, even just a little.

—Kate Garland, Immaculate Heart Middle School, Los Angeles, Calif. 

I strongly hope that every child can spare more time to accompany their elderly parents when they are struggling, and moving forward, and give them more care and patience. so as to truly achieve the goal of “you accompany me to grow up, and I will accompany you to grow old.”

—Taiyi Li, Lane Community College, Eugene, Ore.

I have three cats, and they are my brothers and sisters. We share a special bond that I think would not be possible if they were human. Since they do not speak English, we have to find other ways to connect, and I think that those other ways can be more powerful than language.

—Maya Dombroskie, Delta Program Middle School, Boulsburg, Pa.

We are made to love and be loved. To have joy and be relational. As a member of the loneliest generation in possibly all of history, I feel keenly aware of the need for relationships and authentic connection. That is why I decided to talk to my grandmother.

—Luke Steinkamp, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio

After interviewing my grandma and writing my paper, I realized that as we grow older, the things that are important to us don’t change, what changes is why those things are important to us.

—Emily Giffer, Our Lady Star of the Sea, Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.

The media works to marginalize elders, often isolating them and their stories, and the wealth of knowledge that comes with their additional years of lived experiences. It also undermines the depth of children’s curiosity and capacity to learn and understand. When the worlds of elders and children collide, a classroom opens.

—Cristina Reitano, City College of San Francisco, San Francisco, Calif.

My values, although similar to my dad, only looked the same in the sense that a shadow is similar to the object it was cast on.

—Timofey Lisenskiy, Santa Monica High School, Santa Monica, Calif.

I can release my anger through writing without having to take it out on someone. I can escape and be a different person; it feels good not to be myself for a while. I can make up my own characters, so I can be someone different every day, and I think that’s pretty cool.

—Jasua Carillo, Wellness, Business, and Sports School, Woodburn, Ore. 

Notice how all the important things in his life are people: the people who he loves and who love him back. This is because “people are more important than things like money or possessions, and families are treasures,” says grandpa Pat. And I couldn’t agree more.

—Brody Hartley, Garrison Middle School, Walla Walla, Wash.  

Curiosity for other people’s stories could be what is needed to save the world.

—Noah Smith, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio

Peace to me is a calm lake without a ripple in sight. It’s a starry night with a gentle breeze that pillows upon your face. It’s the absence of arguments, fighting, or war. It’s when egos stop working against each other and finally begin working with each other. Peace is free from fear, anxiety, and depression. To me, peace is an important ingredient in the recipe of life.

—JP Bogan, Lane Community College, Eugene, Ore.

From A Teacher

Charles Sanderson

Wellness, Business and Sports School, Woodburn, Ore. 

The Birthday Gift

I’ve known Jodelle for years, watching her grow from a quiet and timid twelve-year-old to a young woman who just returned from India, where she played Kabaddi, a kind of rugby meets Red Rover.

One of my core beliefs as an educator is to show up for the things that matter to kids, so I go to their games, watch their plays, and eat the strawberry jam they make for the county fair. On this occasion, I met Jodelle at a robotics competition to watch her little sister Abby compete. Think Nerd Paradise: more hats made from traffic cones than Golden State Warrior ball caps, more unicorn capes than Nike swooshes, more fanny packs with Legos than clutches with eyeliner.

We started chatting as the crowd chanted and waved six-foot flags for teams like Mystic Biscuits, Shrek, and everyone’s nemesis The Mean Machine. Apparently, when it’s time for lunch at a robotics competition, they don’t mess around. The once-packed gym was left to Jodelle and me, and we kept talking and talking. I eventually asked her about the three things that matter to her most.

She told me about her mom, her sister, and her addiction—to horses. I’ve read enough of her writing to know that horses were her drug of choice and her mom and sister were her support network.

I learned about her desire to become a teacher and how hours at the barn with her horse, Heart, recharge her when she’s exhausted. At one point, our rambling conversation turned to a topic I’ve known far too well—her father.

Later that evening, I received an email from Jodelle, and she had a lot to say. One line really struck me: “In so many movies, I have seen a dad wanting to protect his daughter from the world, but I’ve only understood the scene cognitively. Yesterday, I felt it.”

Long ago, I decided that I would never be a dad. I had seen movies with fathers and daughters, and for me, those movies might as well have been Star Wars, ET, or Alien—worlds filled with creatures I’d never know. However, over the years, I’ve attended Jodelle’s parent-teacher conferences, gone to her graduation, and driven hours to watch her ride Heart at horse shows. Simply, I showed up. I listened. I supported.

Jodelle shared a series of dad poems, as well. I had read the first two poems in their original form when Jodelle was my student. The revised versions revealed new graphic details of her past. The third poem, however, was something entirely different.

She called the poems my early birthday present. When I read the lines “You are my father figure/Who I look up to/Without being looked down on,” I froze for an instant and had to reread the lines. After fifty years of consciously deciding not to be a dad, I was seen as one—and it felt incredible. Jodelle’s poem and recognition were two of the best presents I’ve ever received.

I  know that I was the language arts teacher that Jodelle needed at the time, but her poem revealed things I never knew I taught her: “My father figure/ Who taught me/ That listening is for observing the world/ That listening is for learning/Not obeying/Writing is for connecting/Healing with others.”

Teaching is often a thankless job, one that frequently brings more stress and anxiety than joy and hope. Stress erodes my patience. Anxiety curtails my ability to enter each interaction with every student with the grace they deserve. However, my time with Jodelle reminds me of the importance of leaning in and listening.

In the article “Three Things That Matter Most in Youth and Old Age” by Nancy Hill, she illuminates how we “live among such remarkable people, yet few know their stories.” For the last twenty years, I’ve had the privilege to work with countless of these “remarkable people,” and I’ve done my best to listen, and, in so doing, I hope my students will realize what I’ve known for a long time; their voices matter and deserve to be heard, but the voices of their tias and abuelitos and babushkas are equally important. When we take the time to listen, I believe we do more than affirm the humanity of others; we affirm our own as well.

Charles Sanderson has grounded his nineteen-year teaching career in a philosophy he describes as “Mirror, Window, Bridge.” Charles seeks to ensure all students see themselves, see others, and begin to learn the skills to build bridges of empathy, affinity, and understanding between communities and cultures that may seem vastly different. He proudly teaches at the Wellness, Business and Sports School in Woodburn, Oregon, a school and community that brings him joy and hope on a daily basis.

From   The Author: Response to Charles Sanderson

Dear Charles Sanderson,

Thank you for submitting an essay of your own in addition to encouraging your students to participate in YES! Magazine’s essay contest.

Your essay focused not on what is important to you, but rather on what is important to one of your students. You took what mattered to her to heart, acting upon it by going beyond the school day and creating a connection that has helped fill a huge gap in her life. Your efforts will affect her far beyond her years in school. It is clear that your involvement with this student is far from the only time you have gone beyond the classroom, and while you are not seeking personal acknowledgment, I cannot help but applaud you.

In an ideal world, every teacher, every adult, would show the same interest in our children and adolescents that you do. By taking the time to listen to what is important to our youth, we can help them grow into compassionate, caring adults, capable of making our world a better place.

Your concerted efforts to guide our youth to success not only as students but also as human beings is commendable. May others be inspired by your insights, concerns, and actions. You define excellence in teaching.

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The Most Important Lessons Life Has Taught Me Thus Far

• https://thoughtcatalog.com/?p=678187

You know when everyone says that your high school days are the best days of your life? It’s almost as if they’re saying it couldn’t get any better than waking up every morning at 8 AM and surviving another group project! 

After high school ended, my life just started to begin and sometimes I feel as if it hasn’t even begun now.

Everything I survived up until now was just a crash course for what is yet to come. 

My first lesson taught me to  live for myself and not for others.  You can’t change other people, so either you change yourself or change your situation. Why should you have to change for them to like you when you have always accepted them exactly the way they are? 

Every flaw is a gift. These are the gifts that make you priceless. No one can put a value on something that is so unique that it can’t be compared or labelled as nothing like it exists in the world.  

Your flaws make you exceptional in a way that makes it  impossible for anyone to compete with you because they don’t have what you have.  And what you have, there’s not even a name for it, because you are the only one who has it. 

My second lesson taught me that  even the ones closest to you are the ones who are the most distant.  You may not hear from them every day or even in a year. At times, you wonder if you can still call them a friend or have they become another name on your Facebook?

Be thankful for everything they did do, even if they don’t do it anymore. They were there once when you needed them and for that reason you are able to solve all your problems today on your own. It may not seem like it, but every small text, trip to the bar and even the moments when all they did was put a hand on your shoulder,  was a gesture that you mattered.

Sometimes, it seems like you don’t matter to them anymore. You can’t read their minds, so maybe they have moved on. But they played a role in your life. Each advice, conversation, fight and moment, were tools for you to be the person you have become but didn’t think you could be. 

If it wasn’t for those small gestures that made you feel like there were people out there to whom you were important to, you wouldn’t realize that at the end of the day,  the only person that you need to matter to, is you.  

My third lesson taught me that  a real heart break can only happen by the ones you love.  Otherwise, you can’t even call it a heart break. You only give your heart to the people you love. They are the ones who have you heart, therefore, the only ones who have the power to break it.

But there’s a reason you give your heart to the wrong people. Your heart needs to break.  It needs to have cracks and holes to let in the right love that would have otherwise been unable to make it through if your heart was completely sealed.

My fourth lesson taught me that  the ones who are good, are often the ones who have it the worst.  We have to fight harder and sometimes even breathe harder just to live in the same air as everyone else.

It’s not fair. But have you noticed? The ones who do have it perfect, are the most flawed people of this world. They are weak because they never had to fight for anything. They never had to try to reach for stars so their feet never left the land.  Although it may seem like they are soaring in the air when in fact, they have never even made it past the ground.  

We may not have much, but we have more in our minds than they will ever have in their entire lives. And that’s when you truly realize  that we are the ones who really have it the best.

My fifth and last lesson taught me,  that you feel the happiest, when you are completely alone.  Away from everyone else you learn to discover yourself as you truly are the natural beautiful you, and not the “you” you become and are molded into in the presence of others. 

You don’t even realize it, but we change ourselves when in the company of our friends, our close friends and our best friends. We act differently with our bosses, co-workers and family at home.  Every person in our lives define who we are before we even get a chance to know who that person is.

Being away from all that inspired me to create myself. Who I was before was a creation made by others.  If I am truly the captain of my soul, how have I always let everyone else run it?  

When you are alone, you become your only boss. So be the best d*mn boss you can be. Be so cruel that nothing anyone can ever say will break you the way you broke yourself. 

Laugh at your silly mistakes so whenever another person tries to laugh at you, you can say you already beat them to it. Teach yourself to hate the things that people love the most about you, and love the things that they hate the most. 

About the author

Mariya Hoque

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Important Things I Have Learned So Far

The Artist is no other than he who unlearns what he has learned, in order to know himself  .   E.E. Cummings

While writing full-time for almost three years now , I have spent a lot more time looking inwards (and would continue to do so) than I did before. When I reflect on myself, I see how imperfect I am. With this self-knowledge, I am able to look outwards with more compassion. I have also realized that life, though, complex, is also simple. It all depends on how we look at things.

These growing insights into the external and internal world lay the foundation of my personal growth and creativity , both of which, in turn, help me understand more. (Update May 2022: I’ve been reflecting inwards for close to five years now. And I’m updating this list of things I have learned as per my current understanding. I also have my learnings from the year 2022 written down separately, in case you want to look at the latest only.)

Learning paves way for more learning.

In this piece on the most important lessons in life, I share everything I have learned so far. I have penned down the ways that help me simplify things. I believe that all that is important must have made itself available to my mind and heart while I’m writing the article. And if I have missed something, either I do not care about it enough or the learning will appear in some form later.

This collection of lessons is more a cheat sheet for me and less a guide for a reader looking for life’s wisdom . But I do hope I have shared experiences that will help one sail along this immense sea of life with a bit more ease.

This list of life learnings is long with sections randomly arranged. If you like the article, consider bookmarking it to return to it later at a time of need.

While you are here, also consider checking out my collection of deep meaningful quotes on l ife. I have put these together from years of reading.

By Caspar David Friedrich / Public domain

Things i have learned so far, things i’ve learned about work, skills, and perseverance.

Quoting Galib, Bukowski, or Edison doesn’t make anyone a poet, a writer , or a visionary. Ideas hit hard like a hailstorm if we live a dedicated life. 1

Depending on your goals , you may have to put in immense effort to create the life you desire. Don’t forget about destiny. 2

Things take their course . Hydrate yourself with patience. 3 (this is one of my most profound learnings from Vincent .)

You can only shift the world right now, not in five minutes. 4 Or Every day,  the smallest of the things that you do make up who you are and what you would become. 4

The quality of the 10,000 hours spent to build any skill is significant. The number of hours I sit on the chair to write is important, but the number of hours I don’t know if I was on the chair is even more important. Don’t pretend, do. 5

The sum of many small things might not be greater than one big one, but several intangible forces start working in your favor when you are consistent . 6

Life Lessons on Honesty. 

Your honesty aids you more than it benefits anyone else. 7

Honesty is a freely-flowing, private, invincible savior. 8

Lessons from Life on Temperament and Happiness

A good life is not defined by work or relationships . The size of your bungalow or the freshness of the kingfish at dinner doesn’t quantify happiness either. Though these things make up our lives, affect our mood, and make us more comfortable, none of these alone or together can keep us happy and fulfilled. 9

Our temperament decides if we would live a good life filled with happiness. Temperament is the mesh that holds everything together. 10

If you get upset at small things, you will stay unhappy and guilt-prone. 11

Having an angry temperament doesn’t make you a bad person. You are scared. You worry if like the last time you will miss this time, too. You are only trying to get the best for yourself. 12

You can always improve your nature but you will have to lift heavier weights¹ than you might pick up in the gym. 13

Lessons I’ve Learned About Work.

After work, we don’t migrate to a new realm of personal life. We just get access to a more freely flowing time. It is the same world of our thoughts and interests, unless we hate our work. 14

The more fluidly work and personal life flow into each other, the easier it is. And then one day you can’t tell the difference between which is which. 15

Work should not suck . 1 6

Passion is the remedy for some people. 17 ( I quit my job to become a writer .)

In the absence of passion, there is still always something that you can be good at. Find it. 18

Lessons on Individuality. 

Practice abstinence from following people unless you want to always walk behind. 19

Learnings on Performance.

How you do one thing is how you do everything. 2 0

How to know if you are doing the best? A constant judgment of your choices or results would leave you more confused than a cat looking at her reflection . We just work with compassion, dedication, and patience. We maneuver our path every time we realize we have made a mistake. Our efforts will aggregate over time. 21

You can always do better, but you don’t know how, yet. 22

Valuable Lessons on Past. 

Rueing over a mistake is worse than trying to unfry the salmon. 23

You shouldn’t care about that Friday in 2014 when your ex-boyfriend threw your cashmere sweater out of the balcony. You would lie to yourself to fill the gap in memories³ and would hurt yourself by thinking imaginary things that are not winning you the best humor book author award either. 24

Past is an eerie glow of a dead star, and your reality is that milky moon up in the sky today. 25

The more you think about the past, the more habitual you become of thinking about the past —  you justify your actions and life so far but every time you feel you are done you find more things to defend. You increase your reasons to worry rather than reducing them, ironically. Now you are watching the past from behind a hazy screen while your present is hazing away, too. 26

Letting go is the key to fulfillment. 27

Biggest Lessons in Life on The Smallest Things .

Small things are small. To keep them small you will have to stop obsessing over them. 28

Removing the phrase “it wasn’t fair” from your vocabulary can take you a long way. 29 (and so will these 13 other things .)

Don’t be burdened by things that don’t seem to go your way. Things happen on their own accord, and we cannot tell what would do us good or what would do us bad. 30

You start to forget who you were once upon a time. But if you remind yourself of your hard times (or as they say keep those old clothes hidden in the back of the closet), it would be easier for you to stay kind and compassionate. 31

The easier you get bothered, the more you will be teased (by friends and life). 3 2

What I Learned About Happiness.

The world doesn’t care if you are in a bad mood or a good one. 33

No one is responsible for your happiness. 34

Self-pitying people always create a reason to pity themselves. You are not a reason for anyone’s unhappiness or the heart attacks they tell you they might get. 35

On People and Human Condition

If you want people to care about you, you care about them, first. 36

People are waiting for you to cheer up so they can laugh with you. 37

Instead of defending yourself, hit a joke with another joke. Laugh it away. Keep it light. 38

People will always tell you to do what they think is right. And we all believe we are right. 39

The more you try to please people, the more difficult it becomes to appease them. 40

People accept criticism better once they have been appreciated. 41

People like you if you put yourself below them. Put yourself on a lower pedestal a few times. But don’t do it all the time else you will find yourself crawling on the grass. 42

People will like you more if you let go of small things. 43

If you show people you understand where they are coming from and you are like them, too, you have them. 44

The day you stand up to lead, people will follow you. But they will only continue following you if you bring conviction and relentlessness. 45

Everyone – even the richest and most popular people – get scared of missing out . Everyone gets jealous. 46

Christian Satin / CC0

Lessons Taught By Life On Worry, Productivity, and Fun.

Worry is constipation for the mind. 47

We always overestimate the effort or pain required to finish a task. When the time comes, we don’t quantify the effort. We want the thing to get over. Later on, we always feel the job wasn’t that hard or it was different from how we had imagined it. 48

Bad days won’t leave us alone. Even those of us who are playing PubG on Google Pixel or binge-watching Netflix don’t have all days bright. 49

Instead of brooding on bad days , do something you enjoy, whatever gives you pleasure or brings clarity. Get to your deliverables when you stop hurting. Now you don’t have a bad day but a few relaxing hours. 50

We are always worrying in our imagination because most of the things we fret about don’t ever happen. And what we never thought, happens. So the best is to do the best we can in everything, have a backup plan in case something doesn’t go right, and stop thinking. 51

You worry more than you need to . 52

Learnings on Fun.

Sometimes doing nothing and watching squirrels frolicking around should be the essence of the day. 53

Fun is not the coolant but it’s the fuel . Or Don’t play to work better  —  play to play. 54

Enjoyment doesn’t mean instant gratification  all the time —  we don’t need to grin every second, but the idea is not to cry to sleep every day either. 55

Instant gratification does refill our willpower. Now manipulate the willpower to do whatever you have to do. 56

Life Wisdom on Communication

Language needs to be changed according to the companion like one changes socks as per the wind of the day. 57

On Seriousness versus Frolic

To become sincere, poetic, and philosophical, we neither have to don Neitzsche’s countenance nor have to stop forwarding cat memes. The greatest philosophy is in knowing and accepting who we are . 58

You would not only alienate yourself from others by being too solemn, but you can also miss out on intersecting with the free wavelengths of life. 59

Be sincere, not serious. 60

Lesson on Knowledge.

If you know a little bit about everything, you are better placed than a lot of people. 61

The easiest way to learn a lot about a lot of things is by reading books . 62

Don’t learn to be better than others. Learn to understand better. 63

Meaningful Lessons on Money

Money can’t buy happiness, wisdom, well-being, relationships , or anything else valuable. But no money buys unhappiness. 64

You are precious if you are not running behind money like everyone else. If you are devoted, money will follow you. 65

Money can buy flight tickets to Colombia and peri-peri french fries and these come close to happiness on some days. 66

Lifelong Lessons on Kindness.

Every act of kindness has the power to multiply like water hyacinth. 67

Kindness flows back. 68

Being kind sucks sometimes. But you do it despite. 69

You shouldn’t depend on your partner to do all the benevolent deeds. Keep your flame of compassion and kindness ablaze. 70

Things That I Have Learned on Care, Writing, Art, and Performance.

Everyone can write . But you can only write well about the things you care about. 71

A lot of things can only be done well if we care. 72

Don’t shun something you aren’t proud of. See how you can improve. And that might make all the difference. 73

Maybe it wasn’t the right time for that idea. Try it later. 74

Believing in a secret ingredient can delay you from forming your magical formula. 75

You cannot be there before you are there. The process is the result . 76

The road only shows up when you walk ahead . 77

Deep Life Lessons on Feelings and experiences.

We feel, and that is why anything matters ². 78

You can never feel anyone else’s experience or happiness so don’t pity them or hate them. 79

Hard (But True) Lifelong Lessons on Jealousy, Comparison, and Imitation 

Everyone is figuring out something. 80

The people you think got it easy never had it easy. Even a white, well-educated American male struggles in handling the human experience every day. And his life counts, too. 81

Comparing your life with someone else’s is like comparing the end of two books. 82

The more we try to become like someone, the further we go away from becoming ourselves . 83

Being different could be the way. 84

If you are doing something because others are doing it, then the only thing you are doing is copying. 85

You don’t have to avoid something because others are not doing it. 86

Learnings on Forgiveness.

You can forgive people or you can reproach them for hurting you  —  But it’s not about them anymore, it’s about you. 87

Instead of a reprimand, a gentle nudge in the right direction does more good. 88

Life Lessons Learnt on People, Dispositions, and Human Condition.

Experience helps but being a novice also gives the power to try. 89

People don’t mean everything they say. We shouldn’t take everything literally. 90

Not everything is about you. 91

Crime isn’t committed by bad people — crime is committed by people. We could have been one of those people if things didn’t work out for us the way they did. 92

Good looks leave a better first impression. Sorry, the world is biased. 93

Life Learnings About Friends.

Close friends can heal you faster than a cup of tea. Create healthy relationships for they carry you when you cannot walk. 94

Friends won’t wait for you eternally  —  their life goes on while you are busy creating yours. You can either be in both lives at the same time or you can see yourself disappearing slowly from their story. 95

Lessons on Doing One Thing at a Time.

Don’t try to do it all. 96

If you can’t resist doing it all  —  do it one at a time. 97

Multitask in things that aren’t that important. 98

Inspirational Lessons on Blogging and Art.

Blogging or writing or cartooning or doodling or Youtubing comes from a space within. Creating is not about how much you know, it is about how less you know and how curious you are. 99

No two blogs can be the same  —  the people behind them are driven by different things. 100

A dilettante can’t win long-term by pretending. 101

The Not-So-Obvious Things Learned in Life.

If you are thinking about the same problems over and over (the dictionary of Obscure Sorrows describes this weariness with the same old issues as Altschmerz ) it doesn’t mean that you haven’t made any progress. Progress reflects in how you struggle with those problems. 102

Don’t worry about not knowing the rules of art as long as you know about the rules of life. They interchange, by the way. 103

Fotographie Stephan Rohner / CC BY-SA

Life Learnings on Love.

There are fewer things better than love. Let yourself love. 104

Love will come and go but don’t forget to work on yourself while you are floating in the pool of love. Else you will sink soon. 105

Your partner is your portable home . 10 6

Valuable Life Lessons on Overthinking.

If you overbear yourself with the same thoughts , you would end up tumbling. 1 07

Learnings on Work, Monotony, Skills, and Fun.

This constant tug of war between work and recreation cannot be always justified by spending more time at work — it can be only pacified by being more aware while working. 108

Doing laundry is not a waste of time. If we can have fun doing our domestic chores, we have learned the way to live. 109 (and other ideas for our 30s .)

Lessons on What Matters.

You may forget high school science. But high school science does make adult life better. 110

Keep your basics right. Visit the dentist. Get that check-up done. Now shift to autopilot and free yourself for other stuff. 111

Getting married or having a baby isn’t like switching on the television every night. These are personal decisions, despite what the world tells you. 112

Television is designed to engage you in brainless activities. Unhook and pick a book or play cards with friends, you will be more fulfilled. 113

Life Lessons on Habits.

Habits can kill you or make you . Go back to the time when your mother used to discourage you from eating chocolate by telling you it was a bad habit. (no? So it was just me.) 118

Worrying about forming good habits is paradoxical. 114

Lessons on Things of Real Consequence.

Life could end anytime. But you live like it won’t, ever. And then it does. 115

People will judge you, but it has nothing to do with you. 11 6

Keeping a gun isn’t about personal protection. 117

Democracy is a pretense. 118

None of your relationships define you. 119

Banks never care about the customer. They only pretend to. Think for yourself. 120

You can feel lonely. 12 1

Parents are jealous of their children. Your life always seems easier than theirs. Don’t hold it against them. 122

Getting the best every time is only worth it if you are unaffected when you don’t get the best. Worrying over perfection is paradoxical. 123

If you can think about it, someone else can, too. If you feel it, someone else has felt it, too. What makes you different from others is what you do after. 124

Life isn’t like a book, but more like concentric circles. 125

Art is larger than life because it creates life. 126

A day is made up of good times, okay times, and bad times. 127

Everyday/sunrise/sunset is different from the previous one, even though sometimes it feels similar. 128

Nothing can be resolved by reading an article about it. Practice will solve the problem. 1 29

Stubborn, egotistic, and relentless avant-garde people shift the world. 130

You like to hide things deep inside. Then you think about those things to comfort yourself in the hour of need, and that is okay. 131

You would feel like hurting people at times. Especially if they are more successful or more beautiful or they have hurt you before. But don’t do it. 132

Lessons on Learning.

Ethnolinguistics should be a subject in school. So should be emotional intelligence , personal growth , sex education, writing, arts, speech, gender identity, international relations, and communication skills. If they are not, study them on your own. 133

Studying a subject meticulously doesn’t take the poetry out of it. You would know the concepts and patterns and will be able to use them at will. 134

Learnings on Fulfillment.

Watching that molten sunset could be one of the most fulfilling things of the day. 135

The Most Important Lesson of My Life So Far.

Don’t do something just because someone else asked you to do it. Run on reason. 136

You are what you think. Think right. 137

Creativity is mostly about living fully, laughing, playing, running around, crying, talking, and meeting friends. Then comes hard repetition. 138

When you don’t understand something, pause. Or restart. 139

What I Have Learned So Far from Traveling Solo.

You don’t need to justify why you want to travel alone . (the linked article is only an expression of how I feel when I travel and not a justification.) 140

The beginning of a solo trip is always a little scary. You feel the world is against you. You imagine that everyone is watching you or laughing at you because you are wandering alone. But if you let the fear go for a second and look up , you will see that people are minding their business and not staring at you. Trust the universe. 141

You would have to step out of your comfort zone if you want to grow. Travel is the means to this end. 142

A cat, or anyone else, is yours because of the time you give to each other ⁴. 143

Everyone gets scared. But despite your fear, walk, make a mistake, receive feedback with open arms, and do it again. Break that wall of fear brick by brick. Now you are free to face another fear. 144

You would never be able to win the approval of negative people, so the earlier you show them the way out, the less emotional baggage you will carry. 145

The show goes on. Participate. 1 46

Life Teachings on The Continuum of The World.

Everything is connected  —  the work we do, the way we treat people, the way they talk to us, the appreciation we get, the food we eat, the people we hang out with, the places we want to visit, the guilt we carry, and the memories we relish. Having disjoint expectations from each part of life doesn’t make sense. 147

The world is a continuum. The better we can interconnect ideas, the more easily we can float in life ⁵ . 148

Some of the Biggest Lessons I’ve Learned.

Only experience can tell if something will work. 149

You can’t win by always playing hard to get. 150

No one has the power to upset you unless you give it to them. 151

It is not always easy to differentiate the cause from the result. 152

You would forget that it was about having fun . Remind yourself frequently. 153

Our ideas, promotions, commitments, financial planning, and relationships all are there to make life better. So if something goes down, don’t despair: its presence was to keep you good, but its absence doesn’t mean hell. You can get anything as long as you can breathe peacefully. 154

Things always work out if you just hold on a little longer. But they may come to you in a different form from how you recognize them. 155

Intuition is the collective consciousness of the life we have lived so far. Don’t ignore it. 1 56

Any good service or product or writing or art starts with being about you but then it is all about the people. 157

To forgive someone might seem unfair to you, but when you forgive, you soak in peace — thus getting your fair share. 158

We always have an option. 1 59

Art breathes inside each one of us. 160

Smile for you feel how you act. 161

Don’t just respect someone for their age, respect wisdom and kindness, and all such noble dispositions. 162

Lessons on Learning and Unlearning

There is art in science and science in art. Once you connect the two, you have found infinity. 163

To create, first, understand the rules. Then break them . 164

At some point, you start limiting yourself  — maybe when your mother first said you can’t go out alone or when the teacher scolds you for trying to understand the basics rather than repeating her answer or when you see an advertisement for a fairness cream guaranteeing a better life. But the truth is inside the box of reason. Open it. 165

What about Noise?

The background noise sounds louder when you are having a hard time. 166

Life Lessons on Goals and Determination.

You can do anything that you set your mind to. 167 

Without goals, you are as directionless as a sunflower is at night. 168

If you are ready to receive what comes along the way, you start moving in the direction of your goal little by little. 169

What Life Has Taught Me on Hard Days.

Don’t be scared to lose yourself, for you might be on the path of discovering yourself. 170

Think deep, not wide. 171

Most problems have simpler solutions. 172

Society is judgmental police. 173

Don’t let anyone else write your story. 174

Everything has an expiry date. 175

Sometimes you do your best work when you are tired — we would only make the effort to write that sentence if it is too good to let go. 176

Soak inspiration from the universe. 177

Words are wings. When not wings, they are swords. Choose your flights and battles wisely. 178

Your brain would expand into the time you give it to do something. Too less, and it hurries up. More, it stretches out. 179

When you feel angry or dejected, eat. Eventually, it is all about some curry and rice . 180

Walk on dewy mountain trails fringed by pine trees often. The joy is unbridled. 181

If you let go of boundaries set by others, you can tune into infinite wavelengths of freedom and choice. But be careful to not tune into noise again. 182

You need much less than you think you do. 1 83

Climbing stairs is always better than taking an elevator. Move your body as much as you reflex your brain so that you can climb that mountain when you want to. 184

Eventually, everything gets done. So instead of worrying, pause and breath frequently. Or kick a punching bag. Or restart your laptop to first get rid of those annoying notifications. Fix the basics. 185

The best way to live is to act as if no one is watching you. 1 86

We have time. We have strength. And then we have love. 

If you see a longer piece of work taking time despite of your best efforts, stand in front of a mirror. 187

When you think you have given it all, the universe will ask for more, and you will find yourself giving it more. 188

Sometimes you get into something so deep that you forget that you are inside. Let love find you at those times. 189

Everything I learned in 2022 .

Pál Szinyei Merse / Public domain

Follow-Up Read: Self-Growth , in Simple Terms

1. Benjamin Franklin made a record of his everyday routine and checked if he worked on his vices.

2. Daniel Gilbert says in his book Stumbling on Happiness — Feelings don’t just matter, they are what mattering means. Are war and peace more important for any reason other than the feelings they produce?

3. We don’t remember our past as well as we think. You will find enough proof of this in Daniel Gilbert’s monumental book Stumbling on Happiness .

4. If I could suggest one book to anyone, it would be The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

5. I don’t think I can put better than this: There are no separate systems. The world is a continuum. Where to draw a boundary around a system depends on the purpose of the discussion ― Donella H. Meadows

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7 thoughts on “Important Things I Have Learned So Far”

Lovely reading this article – I can relate to so many of these learnings. Each of them talks about the profound experiences you must have had in your life. Such a collection!

Thanks Namrata. It took a lot to write this piece so I am glad you resonated with it at some level. Have a great week, Priyanka

Awesome….its really noteworthy

Your views bring so much sensibility to my weekends.

Thanks for sharing them.

I want to follow my passion and eventually quit my job (I don’t think I would quit it before, because I’m not sure how realistic it is to succeed in what I like) but I struggle a lot with feelings of self-worth and imposter syndrome. I find it very difficult to accept praise and keep deflecting it. When I get any appreciation, I depersonalize it and it always feels so empty. Do you have any thoughts on how to overcome imposter syndrome, esp. when you’re flying solo? I’m very sensitive to the idea of ‘not doing a good job’ and what scares me is starting out and ending up mediocre.

Such a profound article. I hope people that stumble across it do take time to acknowledge it. I want to add my own two cents: We are quick to consider ourselves unlucky but never to think of us as lucky. Just because we are born with the same possibilities as someone else doesn’t mean we end up doing as well as them. It may feel like the greatest unfairness, but it’s just what it is.

Thanks for your kind words. Just because we are born with the same possibilities as someone else doesn’t mean we end up doing as well as them. It may feel like the greatest unfairness, but it’s just what it is. – This sort of sumps it up. Thanks a lot 🙂

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Essay Service Examples Life Personal Experience

My Life Essay

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Essay on life in english for children and students, essay about life 1 (100 words), essay about life 2 (200 words), essay about life 3 (300 words), introduction, dealing with challenges, set goals: give purpose to life, essay about life 4 (400 words), appreciate life and express gratitude, don't waste your life, essay about life 5 (500 words), find happiness in little things, enjoy the journey of life; don't rush through it, essay about life 6 (600 words), true value of life by philosophers, identify the purpose of life, count your blessings, essay about life 7 (1300 words).

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How do experiences shape someone’s life?

Experiences shape lives by influencing perspectives, beliefs, and behaviors. Positive ones foster growth, resilience, and empathy, while negative ones pose challenges and trauma. They define character and life path.

How can someone value life?

Valuing life involves gratitude, meaningful relationships, and pursuing passions. Appreciating life’s preciousness, embracing joy, and prioritizing self-care enhance its value. Personal growth and positive contributions foster purpose.

What are the ups and downs in life?

Life has ups (happiness, success, growth) and downs (challenges, setbacks, hardships). Ups bring joy, fulfillment, and milestones. Downs test resilience, provoke distress, and include failures and losses. They shape us, offer learning opportunities, and build resilience.

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Essay on Most Memorable Moment Of My Life

Students are often asked to write an essay on Most Memorable Moment Of My Life in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Most Memorable Moment Of My Life

My unforgettable day.

One day stands out in my memory more than any other. It was the day I won the school science fair. I had worked on a project about plants for weeks. My heart was full of hope but also fear.

Feelings of Joy

When they called my name as the winner, I felt a rush of happiness. My friends clapped and my parents smiled proudly. That moment was special because I saw my hard work pay off.

Lasting Impact

That day taught me to believe in myself. It will always be a cherished memory that reminds me of the joy of achievement.

250 Words Essay on Most Memorable Moment Of My Life

Introduction.

Everyone has moments in their life that stay in their heart forever. For me, the most memorable moment was when I won a school race. It was not just about running fast, but about overcoming my fears and proving to myself that I could do it.

The Big Race

Victory and joy.

As I crossed the finish line, I heard my name being shouted by my friends and teachers. I had won the race! It was a shock because I had never thought I could win. I felt so happy and proud of myself. My friends hugged me, and my teachers praised me. It was a wonderful feeling.

Lesson Learned

That day, I learned that it is important to try, even if you are scared or think you can’t win. Winning the race gave me confidence and taught me that hard work and belief in oneself are very powerful.

The day I won the race is the most memorable moment of my life. It showed me that I could achieve great things. Now, whenever I am scared to try something new, I remember that day and feel brave again. It was a simple race, but it changed how I see myself and the world.

500 Words Essay on Most Memorable Moment Of My Life

Introduction to my most memorable moment.

Every person has a few moments in their life that stick with them forever. These are the times that bring a smile to our faces when we think back on them. For me, the most memorable moment was when I won the first prize in a school art competition.

The Day of the Competition

It was a sunny day, and the school hall was buzzing with excitement. Students from all grades had come together to show their artistic skills. I remember feeling a mix of nerves and excitement as I laid out my paints and brushes. My heart was beating fast, and my hands were a little shaky. I took a deep breath and started to paint, trying to put all my feelings and thoughts onto the paper.

The Challenge

Time flies by.

As I got more into the painting, I forgot about everything else. It was just me, my brushes, and the canvas. Before I knew it, the teachers were announcing that time was up. I stepped back and looked at my work. It was a scene of a sunrise over the mountains with birds flying in the sky. I was proud of it, but I didn’t know if it would be enough to win.

The Announcement

After what felt like forever, the judges came in with their decision. They called out the names for the third and second places. My heart sank a little with each name that wasn’t mine. And then, they called out the first place, and it was my name! I couldn’t believe it. I walked up to the stage, my legs feeling like jelly, to receive my prize. The applause from my friends and teachers filled the room. It was the best feeling ever.

The Impact on Me

The memory of winning the art competition is something that will always be a part of me. It was a day when I overcame my fears, put my skills to the test, and came out victorious. It taught me valuable lessons about hard work, passion, and self-belief. This moment will forever be a source of happiness and inspiration in my life.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

Happy studying!

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Claire Danes calls My So-Called Life an 'accurate account' of her teen experience: 'I didn’t have to reach very far'

As "My So-Called Life" turns 30, its star is reflecting on the "radical" ABC series and its lasting legacy.

As the groundbreaking ABC teen drama My So-Called Life turns 30 , its stars are reflecting on their experience making the short-lived but highly influential series.

Claire Danes recently told PEOPLE in a group interview with cast and crew like creator Winnie Holzman and costar Wilson   Cruz , "I don’t think I had ever read a more accurate account of the experience that I was having in that moment."

"I was just so thrilled to have my internal life articulated for me," she continued. "It’s just an astonishing piece of writing...It was very intuitive. I didn’t have to reach very far.”

ABC Photo Archives/Disney 

“It is really a radical show,” Danes said, crediting Holzman with creating "a genre of television that didn’t exist before" calling Holzman's writing "pleasure-inducing, but also very deep and daring in these surprising ways.”

My So-Called Life debuted on ABC on Aug. 25, 1994 in the coveted 8 p.m. slot that would later be filled by behemoth hits like Grey's Anatomy . Its 19-episode first season failed to capture an audience however, and it was canceled.

“It doesn’t matter who does it first, it matters who does it second," Danes told PEOPLE. "I think  My So-Called Life  was a first, and I think that’s why it had such a limited lifespan. It was so new I think people didn’t immediately know how to register it.”

Reflecting on the series now, Danes feels "so grateful for its resilience, and that it can be shared from one generation to another.” She called it "a really rich and harrowing phase of life that we all go through," adding that her "eldest son is 11 and a half, and I’m just bracing myself. We’re on the edge of it, and I’m a little anxious."

Danes landed the lead role of Angela Chase at only 14 years old. Chase served as the narrator of all but two of the show's episodes, as she navigated the thorny maze of adolescence - tricky friendships with characters played by Devon Odessa and A.J. Langer , and an enduring crush on Jared Leto 's Jordan Catalano .

“I think it was just so surprising to really enter the world of a teenage girl who was so earnest and so curious and thoughtful and sensitive,” Danes said of the series's lasting impact, which can be felt from the harrowing halls of Euphoria, to the dark introspection of Buffy the Vampire Slayer , to the quirky optimism of Lizzie McGuire.

Sign up for  Entertainment Weekly's  free daily newsletter  to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.

Danes remains close with the My So-Called Life cast and creator, participating in several reunions over the years, but she told ET in 2020 that she's " probably not " interested in a reboot.

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The most important life lessons i've learned so far, life is more than just a channel to perfection..

There are so many great lessons we all learn in life. I personally made a list with some of the most important ones so far, specifically, lessons that had a great impact in my life. These lessons have helped me become the person I am today. I know there are much more to come and I am excited to see what they have to offer.

1. Life poses no mistakes, rather lessons for us to learn.

We are constantly learning from everything, everyone and everyplace. It is evident, as humans, that we are prone to make mistakes, it’s the way of life. However, instead of dwelling on these mistakes, it is important that we learn from them. That we take from them lessons to better ourselves and our lives.

2. Forgiveness is key.

Forgiving those who have hurt us is something we all should learn to accept. Many times it can be satisfying to hold tight to our resentments, but many times this only leads to a larger build up of hatred. To forgive is to be strong. You will, at last, be able to find peace, not just within the situation but yourself as well.

3. Life is about the journey.

A lot of times we get so caught up in what we want to achieve, the ability to live life to perfection, that end result, so much so that we forget to live and to really enjoy this wonderful journey of living. Sometimes we need to allow ourselves to live. To observe the wonderful world that surrounds us, the people that make life worth living and the beauty that were faced with every day.

4. Everyone deserves a second chance.

The moment you forgive somebody; chances are that you will also give them a second chance. By doing this, you are also allowing yourself to grow. Everyone makes mistakes, everyone is human. Which is why everyone deserves a second chance. A chance to redeem themselves. An opportunity to learn and grow as an individual.

5. Believe in Yourself.

Don’t expect others to give you all the satisfaction you need. Only you can determine your path. If you don’t believe in yourself, who will? You need to believe that you are capable of being worthy and doing good in this world. If not, then life will be no more than just motions. Believe in yourself to add meaning to your life. To give your life substance and the meaning that it deserves.

6. Anxiety is real. And it's okay.

You might not see it coming and you might not know why it happened. And no matter how hard you try, you will never know the answer. Which is why dwelling is toxic. Anxiety is hard. It is scary and uncomfortable. But they only think that makes it worse is running away from it. In order to combat some of our biggest fears, we need to be strong. Anxiety is normal. It can be dealt with and you will be okay. The problem stems from figuring out how to be okay. Once you do this, anxiety won’t be a stigma, it will be a part of your life. Not a mental illness, but something that you deal with every day, a part of your facade.

Life isn’t perfect and neither are we. Life is a journey that no one knows the answer to. Each and every day we are learning more about ourselves and more about the world around us. I’ve had some incredible life experiences and some bad ones too. But what’s living without a few bumps in the road. Life is happening all around us. That’s why it's crucial that we cherish each and every second, both the good and the bad. We spend to much time living in the “what if”, it’s time we start focusing on the “now.” It’s time you live life to the fullest and experience the difference.

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25 beatles lyrics: your go-to guide for every situation, the best lines from the fab four.

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The End- Abbey Road, 1969

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Dear Prudence- The White Album, 1968

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

Because- Abbey Road, 1969

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

All You Need Is Love, 1967

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

We Can Work It Out- Rubber Soul, 1965

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Come Together- Abbey Road, 1969

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

I Wanna Hold Your Hand- Meet The Beatles!, 1964

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band-1967

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Strawberry Fields Forever- Magical Mystery Tour, 1967

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Rain- Paperback Writer "B" side, 1966

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

Here Comes The Sun- Abbey Road, 1969

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

Saw Her Standing There- Please Please Me, 1963

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

Michelle- Rubber Soul, 1965

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

Revolution- The Beatles, 1968

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Eleanor Rigby- Revolver, 1966

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

With A Little Help From My Friends- Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, 1967

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Hey Jude, 1968

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

Yesterday- Help!, 1965

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

Let It Be- Let It Be, 1970

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all i got to give if you say you'll love me too. i may not have a lot to give but what i got i'll give to you. i don't care too much for money. money can't buy me love.

Can't Buy Me Love- A Hard Day's Night, 1964

All you need is love, love is all you need

All You Need Is Love- Magical Mystery Tour, 1967

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, take these broken wings and learn to fly. all your life, you were only waiting for this moment to arise.

Blackbird- The White Album, 1968

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

In My Life- Rubber Soul, 1965

While these are my 25 favorites, there are quite literally 1000s that could have been included. The Beatles' body of work is massive and there is something for everyone. If you have been living under a rock and haven't discovered the Fab Four, you have to get musically educated. Stream them on Spotify, find them on iTunes or even buy a CD or record (Yes, those still exist!). I would suggest starting with 1, which is a collection of most of their #1 songs, or the 1968 White Album. Give them chance and you'll never look back.

14 Invisible Activities: Unleash Your Inner Ghost!

Obviously the best superpower..

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

1. "Haunt" your friends.

Follow them into their house and cause a ruckus.

2. Sneak into movie theaters.

Going to the cinema alone is good for your mental health , says science

Considering that the monthly cost of subscribing to a media-streaming service like Netflix is oft...

Free movies...what else to I have to say?

3. Sneak into the pantry and grab a snack without judgment.

Late night snacks all you want? Duh.

4. Reenact "Hollow Man" and play Kevin Bacon.

America's favorite son? And feel what it's like to be in a MTV Movie Award nominated film? Sign me up.

5. Wear a mask and pretend to be a floating head.

Just another way to spook your friends in case you wanted to.

6. Hold objects so they'll "float."

"Oh no! A floating jar of peanut butter."

7. Win every game of hide-and-seek.

Just stand out in the open and you'll win.

8. Eat some food as people will watch it disappear.

Even everyday activities can be funny.

9. Go around pantsing your friends.

Even pranks can be done; not everything can be good.

10. Not have perfect attendance.

You'll say here, but they won't see you...

11. Avoid anyone you don't want to see.

Whether it's an ex or someone you hate, just use your invisibility to slip out of the situation.

12. Avoid responsibilities.

Chores? Invisible. People asking about social life? Invisible. Family being rude? Boom, invisible.

13. Be an expert on ding-dong-ditch.

Never get caught and have the adrenaline rush? I'm down.

14. Brag about being invisible.

Be the envy of the town.

But don't, I repeat, don't go in a locker room. Don't be a pervert with your power. No one likes a Peeping Tom.

Good luck, folks.

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned..

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

1. The importance of traditions.

Sometimes traditions seem like a silly thing, but the fact of it is that it's part of who you are. You grew up this way and, more than likely, so did your parents. It is something that is part of your family history and that is more important than anything.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

No matter how many times they get on your nerves or make you mad, they are the ones who will always be there and you should never take that for granted.

3. How to give back.

When tragedy strikes in a small town, everyone feels obligated to help out because, whether directly or indirectly, it affects you too. It is easy in a bigger city to be able to disconnect from certain problems. But in a small town those problems affect everyone.

4. What the word "community" really means.

Along the same lines as #3, everyone is always ready and willing to lend a helping hand when you need one in a small town and to me that is the true meaning of community. It's working together to build a better atmosphere, being there to raise each other up, build each other up, and pick each other up when someone is in need. A small town community is full of endless support whether it be after a tragedy or at a hometown sports game. Everyone shows up to show their support.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

People say this to others all the time, but it takes on a whole new meaning in a small town. It is true that life is about the journey, but when you're from a small town, you know it's about the journey because the journey probably takes longer than you spend at the destination. Everything is so far away that it is totally normal to spend a couple hours in the car on your way to some form of entertainment. And most of the time, you're gonna have as many, if not more, memories and laughs on the journey than at the destination.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

Word travels fast in a small town, so don't think you're gonna get away with anything. In fact, your parents probably know what you did before you even have a chance to get home and tell them. And forget about being scared of what your teacher, principle, or other authority figure is going to do, you're more afraid of what your parents are gonna do when you get home.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

Everyone deserves a chance. Most people don't have ill-intentions and you can't live your life guarding against every one else just because a few people in your life have betrayed your trust.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

While small towns are not always extremely diverse, they do contain people with a lot of different stories, struggle, and backgrounds. In a small town, it is pretty hard to exclude anyone because of who they are or what they come from because there aren't many people to choose from. A small town teaches you that just because someone isn't the same as you, doesn't mean you can't be great friends.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

In a small town, you learn that it's okay to be who you are and do your own thing. You learn that confidence isn't how beautiful you are or how much money you have, it's who you are on the inside.

10. How to work for what I want.

Nothing comes easy in life. They always say "gardens don't grow overnight" and if you're from a small town you know this both figuratively and literally. You certainly know gardens don't grow overnight because you've worked in a garden or two. But you also know that to get to the place you want to be in life it takes work and effort. It doesn't just happen because you want it to.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

If you're from a small town, you know that you will probably only meet a handful of people in your life who ACTUALLY know where your town is. And forget about the people who accidentally enter into your town because of google maps. You've gotten really good at giving them directions right back to the interstate.

12. How to be humble .

My small town has definitely taught me how to be humble. It isn't always about you, and anyone who grows up in a small town knows that. Everyone gets their moment in the spotlight, and since there's so few of us, we're probably best friends with everyone so we are as excited when they get their moment of fame as we are when we get ours.

13. To be well-rounded.

Going to a small town high school definitely made me well-rounded. There isn't enough kids in the school to fill up all the clubs and sports teams individually so be ready to be a part of them all.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

In a small town, good luck holding a grudge. In a bigger city you can just avoid a person you don't like or who you've had problems with. But not in a small town. You better resolve the issue fast because you're bound to see them at least 5 times a week.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

One of my favorite things about growing up in a rural area was being able to go outside and go exploring and not have to worry about being in danger. There is nothing more exciting then finding a new place somewhere in town or in the woods and just spending time there enjoying the natural beauty around you.

16. To be prepared for anything.

You never know what may happen. If you get a flat tire, you better know how to change it yourself because you never know if you will be able to get ahold of someone else to come fix it. Mechanics might be too busy , or more than likely you won't even have enough cell service to call one.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

It's okay to ask for help. One thing I realized when I moved away from my town for college, was how much my town has taught me that I could ask for help is I needed it. I got into a couple situations outside of my town where I couldn't find anyone to help me and found myself thinking, if I was in my town there would be tons of people ready to help me. And even though I couldn't find anyone to help, you better believe I wasn't afraid to ask.

18. How to be creative.

When you're at least an hour away from normal forms of entertainment such as movie theaters and malls, you learn to get real creative in entertaining yourself. Whether it be a night looking at the stars in the bed of a pickup truck or having a movie marathon in a blanket fort at home, you know how to make your own good time.

19. To brush off gossip.

It's all about knowing the person you are and not letting others influence your opinion of yourself. In small towns, there is plenty of gossip. But as long as you know who you really are, it will always blow over.

Grateful Beyond Words: A Letter to My Inspiration

I have never been so thankful to know you..

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

You have taught me that you don't always have to strong. You are allowed to break down as long as you pick yourself back up and keep moving forward. When life had you at your worst moments, you allowed your friends to be there for you and to help you. You let them in and they helped pick you up. Even in your darkest hour you showed so much strength. I know that you don't believe in yourself as much as you should but you are unbelievably strong and capable of anything you set your mind to.

Your passion to make a difference in the world is unbelievable. You put your heart and soul into your endeavors and surpass any personal goal you could have set. Watching you do what you love and watching you make a difference in the lives of others is an incredible experience. The way your face lights up when you finally realize what you have accomplished is breathtaking and I hope that one day I can have just as much passion you have.

SEE MORE: A Letter To My Best Friend On Her Birthday

The love you have for your family is outstanding. Watching you interact with loved ones just makes me smile . You are so comfortable and you are yourself. I see the way you smile when you are around family and I wish I could see you smile like this everyday. You love with all your heart and this quality is something I wished I possessed.

You inspire me to be the best version of myself. I look up to you. I feel that more people should strive to have the strength and passion that you exemplify in everyday life.You may be stubborn at points but when you really need help you let others in, which shows strength in itself. I have never been more proud to know someone and to call someone my role model. You have taught me so many things and I want to thank you. Thank you for inspiring me in life. Thank you for making me want to be a better person.

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life..

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Don't freak out

This is a rule you should continue to follow no matter what you do in life, but is especially helpful in this situation.

Email the professor

Around this time, professors are getting flooded with requests from students wanting to get into full classes. This doesn't mean you shouldn't burden them with your email; it means they are expecting interested students to email them. Send a short, concise message telling them that you are interested in the class and ask if there would be any chance for you to get in.

Attend the first class

Often, the advice professors will give you when they reply to your email is to attend the first class. The first class isn't the most important class in terms of what will be taught. However, attending the first class means you are serious about taking the course and aren't going to give up on it.

Keep attending class

Every student is in the same position as you are. They registered for more classes than they want to take and are "shopping." For the first couple of weeks, you can drop or add classes as you please, which means that classes that were once full will have spaces. If you keep attending class and keep up with assignments, odds are that you will have priority. Professors give preference to people who need the class for a major and then from higher to lower class year (senior to freshman).

Have a backup plan

For two weeks, or until I find out whether I get into my waitlisted class, I will be attending more than the usual number of classes. This is so that if I don't get into my waitlisted class, I won't have a credit shortage and I won't have to fall back in my backup class. Chances are that enough people will drop the class, especially if it is very difficult like computer science, and you will have a chance. In popular classes like art and psychology, odds are you probably won't get in, so prepare for that.

Remember that everything works out at the end

Life is full of surprises. So what if you didn't get into the class you wanted? Your life obviously has something else in store for you. It's your job to make sure you make the best out of what you have.

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Book details

Ten Good and Bad Things About My Life (So Far)

Author: Ann M. Martin

• Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year
• Tri-State Reviews Committee Books of Note - Master List

1 "Lexie?" I said on the first day of fifth grade. "Are you nervous about school?" It was 6:10 a.m., and I was in the hall outside my big sister's bedroom, leaning backward against her door, talking largely to the air. Lexie used to hang a NO PEARL sign on the door to keep me out, but these days I was welcome in her room as long as I was (a) fully clothed, since Lexie still didn't approve of underwear visits, and (b) prepared to start a meaningful conversation. Like, I couldn't interrupt her homework or her violin practice to say, "If Bitey died and then came back to life as a human, do you think he would ask me to marry him?" (Bitey is our cat.) Or, "Have you kissed your new boyfriend yet?" Actually, I thought the kissing question could start a very meaningful conversation, but Lexie never seemed to want to discuss either her boyfriend or kissing with me. There was no answer from within Lexie's room. In fact, there was no sound at all in our apartment. That was probably because it was 6:10 a.m. Everyone was still asleep. Everyone except me, Pearl Littlefield. I was nervous about starting fifth grade. And I was curious to find out whether Lexie was nervous about starting high school. "Lexie?" I said again. "Lexie?" I heard a thump from my parents' room and decided to lower my voice. "Lexie?" I said in a loud whisper. "Pearl, WHAT?" replied my sister suddenly, yanking her door open. I fell into her room and landed on my bottom. "What are you doing? It isn't even six fifteen yet." I got to my feet. "Are you nervous about school?" Lexie clapped her hand to her forehead and flung herself on her bed. "You're asking me this now?" Well, duh. It was the first day of school. When was I supposed to ask? "I need to know," I told her. Lexie rolled her eyes. Or at least I think she did. She'd already closed her lids, but I could see that her eyeballs were rolling around underneath. "I guess so," she replied finally. "Everyone is nervous on the first day of school, Pearl." "No, not everyone. I don't think JBThree is nervous." JBIII is my new best friend. His complete name is James Brubaker the Third, but I shortened it to JBIII, which when you say it out loud it's JBThree. "So maybe you should talk to JBThree," said Lexie, "and let me go back to sleep." Her alarm rang then and she made a face at me, but frankly, it wasn't as mean a face as she would have made a few months ago. She turned off the alarm, patted me on the shoulder as she headed for the bathroom, and said, "You'll be fine, Pearl." * * * An hour and a half later I called good-bye to Mom and rode to the lobby of our apartment building with my father and Lexie and Lexie's cell phone. There's no cell-phone reception on elevators, but my sister had gotten a head start on her phone call by already speed-dialing her best friend Valerie's number. Now her thumb was poised over the Send button, prepared to press it the very second she stepped out of the elevator, so as not to waste a moment contacting Valerie about important high school business. But she didn't have to do that. When the elevator doors opened there were Valerie and also the two Emmas sitting on the couch in the lobby across from John, my favorite doorman. They were wearing a lot of black eyeliner and staring at their cell phones and not talking. But when they saw Lexie they jumped up, and the four of them started squealing and hugging like they hadn't just been together the afternoon before. "Bye, Dad! Bye, Pearl!" called Lexie, and she and her grown-up high school friends rushed out the door and onto Twelfth Street. When you're fourteen you don't need an adult to take you to school, even if you live in New York City. When you're ten you do. Also, just so you know, when you're fourteen you get to have a cell phone and your own personal computer. When you're ten, you don't. (Well, I don't.) Dad and I walked past John, who gave me a high five and said, "Break a leg, Pearl," which is a nice thing to say, not a mean one, except you're supposed to say it to actors not students, but whatever. We stepped outside and I looked across Twelfth Street, and there was JBIII coming out of his building with his mother who wanted to take a first-day-of-school picture. JBIII posed for one half of one second, and then joined Dad and me for the walk to Emily Dickinson Elementary. "Remember the first day of school last year?" I said to my father. "You walked Justine and me to Emily Dickinson. This year you're walking JBThree and me." "Things certainly do change," replied Dad, and I thought he looked a little sad. That was because there had been a lot of changes in our lives besides who I walked to school with. We turned the corner onto Sixth Avenue and passed by all the familiar places in our neighborhood: New World, which is a coffee shop, and Steve-Dan's, which is my all-time favorite store because it sells art supplies, and Cuppa Joe, which is a new coffee shop, and Universal, which is a dry cleaner, and the Daily Grind, which is another new coffee shop. Over the summer Lexie and her friends started going to the Daily Grind to order Mocha Moxies, which they say are coffee drinks but which really look like giant milk shakes. Whenever Lexie starts talking about how she's grown-up enough to drink coffee what I want to say back to her is, "Mom and Dad don't squirt a tower of whipped cream on top of their coffee," but one thing I have learned lately is when not to say something. When Dad and JBIII and I passed Monk's, which is a gift store, I could feel JBIII's eyes on me. Well, not actually on me, which would be gross, but suddenly I could tell he was looking at me and I knew why. We were now one half of a block away from Emily Dickinson, and JBIII and I had decided that no matter what anyone thought, we were simply too old to be walked right up to the door of our school by a parent. "Dad," I said, "JBThree and I are ten years old now." (JBIII was actually a lot closer to eleven, while I was just barely ten.) "Yes, you are," agreed Dad. "And we think that—" JBIII frowned fiercely at me and I tried to remember the exact speech he had made me memorize the day before. "I mean," I said, backing up, "and we feel strongly that we should be allowed"—JBIII poked my arm—"that, um, we're responsible enough to walk the rest of the way to school by ourselves. Every day." "You can stand here and watch us," said JBIII. And then he added quickly, "Sir." "Well…," said my father. Dad has let me do this 2x before, but now JBIII and I were asking to do it regularly, and my father has a teensy problem with change, whether it's good or bad. "Please?" I said, and now JBIII glared at me. He had also warned me not to whine. "Please, Father?" I said calmly. "I suppose so." "Yes!" I exclaimed. "Thank you, sir," said JBIII. "But remember—I'll be watching you." "I know," I said. "Don't kiss me," I added, and JBIII and I ran down the block. Just before we reached Emily Dickinson I waved backward over my shoulder to Dad. JBIII and I wound our way through the halls of Emily Dickinson. We passed by the first-grade room that Justine Lebarro had been in the year before, and then we passed our old fourth-grade room. There was Mr. Potter, our teacher from last year, talking to his new students. We kept on walking until we came to room 5A. I peeked through the doorway, then stepped back and flattened myself against the wall like a spy. "She's in there," I whispered to JBIII. "Ms. Brody." Our teacher was new to Emily Dickinson. All we knew about her was her name. JBIII peeked in, too. "She looks all right," he whispered to me. The truth was that she looked very, very young, like if you switched her pants and her shirt for a white dress and a veil she could be a bride. I kept that thought to myself, though, because I could just hear Lexie clucking her tongue and saying to me, "A person can get married at any age, Pearl." But still in my head all brides were young. "Afraid to go in?" said a voice from behind JBIII and me, and we both jumped. I turned around to see Jill DiNunzio, who is a person I could live without. "No," I said, doing an eye roll. "So what are you waiting for?" she asked. "Well, not you. Come on, JBThree." JBIII and I marched into our new classroom, leaving Jill behind. Fifth grade had officially begun. * * * Ms. Brody let us sit wherever we wanted, at least to begin with. So JBIII and I chose seats together in the last row. I had always wanted to have a best friend to sit with on the first day of school. And it was a relief not to wind up sitting directly in front of the teacher's desk like I did in Mr. Potter's room so he could keep an eye on me. I watched Jill look around and take a seat by the window. I expected her to save seats for Rachel and Katie, but before I knew what had happened, Ms. Brody had closed the door to our room and said, "Welcome, fifth graders." I raised my eyebrows. All the seats were taken. Jill-Rachel-Katie had been split up. I almost jumped out of my chair and cried, "Yes!" but adults don't usually like that sort of thing and I wanted to make a good impression on Ms. Brody so she wouldn't be too mad the first time I left my homework papers under my bed or ran out of steam on a vocab assignment. (I am not a big fan of vocab.) Ms. Brody began to talk about the things we would be studying in fifth grade, so I turned my attention to Jill and how she probably wouldn't be able to wield any power in our classroom all by herself. By the look of things, she didn't have any close friends at all in room 5A. And I had JBIII. I could tell it was going to be a good year. Next I thought about Lexie being in high school. I wondered what she and Valerie and the Emmas were doing right at that exact second. Then I thought about Bitey for a while, and then my parents, and finally I heard the word "homework." Homework? Really? On the very first day of school? This seemed unfair. "I want you to write an essay about your summer vacation," Ms. Brody was saying. "Please outline what you're going to write about, and then write from the outline." Hmm. I thought that over. How would Ms. Brody know whether we had written an outline? I could probably skip that step. "And please hand in both the outline and your essay tomorrow," Ms. Brody finished up. I glanced at JBIII, all prepared to make a face about the awfulness of fifth grade, but he was taking notes on practically every word Ms. Brody said, since one thing he always does is every single assignment. * * * When school finally ended and JBIII and I were walking home ten steps ahead of my father (I didn't want to be rude, but really, it wasn't as if I hadn't walked the route to and from Emily Dickinson about 900x in my life), JBIII said to me, "Our essays are going to be pretty long, Pearl." "I guess." I didn't want to think about homework just then. "Let's go to your apartment and start them right now. We have a lot to write about." I wanted JBIII to come over, but I did not want to start my homework. "Let's draw," I said to him, thinking longingly of my art supplies. "Nope," said JBIII, but not in a mean way. "I want to do a good job on our first assignment for Ms. Brody." "All right," I said at last. As soon as we'd eaten a snack of apples and cheese sticks, JBIII and I sat down side by side on the floor of my bedroom. In the old days we would have settled in the family room, which is really the family room, living room, and dining room all in the same space. But recently the family room had become my father's office and he was sitting there now, glaring at his computer screen. "Now," said JBIII in a businesslike voice, a pad of paper propped against his knees, "first things first." In his neatest printing he wrote MY SUMMER VACATION–OUTLINE across the top of the first sheet of paper. He moved his pencil to the line below. "One," he said aloud, and wrote a Roman numeral one. Oh, yeah. You're supposed to use Roman numerals on an outline. An interesting thing about Roman numerals is that JBIII has one in his name. III=3 in regular numbers. I watched JBIII scratch busily away, making notes about his summer, and I tried to remember how Roman numerals go. Then I thought for a while about Rome, which made me remember an exhibit on Rome that had been at the Museum of Natural History on one of the worst days of my life. It was the end of third grade and our class had taken a field trip to the museum and suddenly I couldn't find my classmates, only dinosaur skeletons, so I shouted, "Help! Police!" and got quite a few adults, including Mrs. DiNunzio (Jill's mother) and our teacher, in trouble for losing me. After that, the other third graders would whisper "Help! Police!" in my ear whenever they wanted to annoy me, which was pretty often, since they already thought I was a big baby. The incident at the museum might not have been so bad if there hadn't been two other incidents that year, one involving Show and Tell (which how was I supposed to know you don't have Show and Tell anymore when you get to third grade in Emily Dickinson Elementary?) and one involving my tinkle. Yes, there was an accidental wetting of my pants, but I don't want to go into the embarrassing details here. All you really need to know is that the whole year was embarrassing and that Jill and Rachel and Katie thought that every bad thing that happened to me was hilarious. Then we all turned up together in the same fourth-grade class, but by the end of that year JBIII and I had become friends, so I didn't care so much about Jill-Rachel-Katie. "Pearl?" said JBIII. "Yeah?" "Aren't you going to start your outline?" I looked at JBIII's paper, which was all spotted with Roman numerals and notes to himself. Then I looked at mine, which was blank. "I'm still collecting my thoughts," I told him, and luckily at that moment, JBIII's mother phoned because she wanted him to come home. When he left, I sat down at the desk and opened my notebook. After a very long time I wrote MY SUMMER VACATION–OUTLINE across the top, and then I made a capital letter I on the next line, which is how you write a Roman numeral one. I stared and stared at the I, and at last I turned to a clean page in my notebook. What would be much, much more fun than writing an outline would be making questionnaires for my parents to fill out at dinnertime. I wrote Mom's in pink ink and Dad's in green: This was Mom's questionnaire. I made a similar one for my father. Then I settled down to start my outline. Next to the Roman numeral II wrote: My dad got fired. Copyright © 2012 by Ann M. Martin

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Pearl Littlefield's first assignment in fifth grade is complicated: She has to write an essay about her summer. Where does she begin? Her dad lost his job, she had to go to a different camp—one...

Book Details

Pearl Littlefield's first assignment in fifth grade is complicated: She has to write an essay about her summer. Where does she begin? Her dad lost his job, she had to go to a different camp—one where her older sister Lexie was a counselor-in-training (ugh!)— and she and her good friend James Brubaker III had a huge fight, which made them both wonder if the other kids were right that girls and boys can't be good friends and which landed one of them in the hospital. And there's much, much more on the list of good and bad things, as Ann Martin takes this appealing character into new adventures through which young readers will see that good or bad, life is what happens when you're making other plans, in Ten Good and Bad Things About My Life (So Far) .

Imprint Publisher

Square Fish

9781250034137

In The News

“A fun, heartfelt read.” — School Library Journal “Convincing and sprinkled with gentle humor….Here's hoping more unexpected good things are in store for the Littlefield family.” — Kirkus

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A ‘Life Review’ Can Be Powerful, at Any Age

Reflecting on the past, through writing or conversation, can help us better appreciate where we are — and where we’re going.

By Emily Laber-Warren

Jodi Wellman was devastated when her mother died of a heart attack at age 58. Cleaning out her apartment made her feel even worse. Drawers and closets overflowed with abandoned projects: unpublished manuscripts and business cards for ventures that had never gotten started.

“My mom was a wake-up call for me,” Ms. Wellman said. “She had these dreams that she didn’t act on.”

At the time, Ms. Wellman was in her early 30s, living in Chicago and working her way up the corporate rungs at a fitness club chain. But, over the course of five years, that work began to feel empty.

Determined not to stagnate like her mother, Ms. Wellman quit her job to become an executive coach, eventually entering a master’s degree program in positive psychology. There, she developed a strategy for living fully: Think about death, a lot.

Now also a speaker and the author of “You Only Die Once,” Ms. Wellman, 48, believes that focusing on how short life is makes you less likely to squander it. To help her clients figure out how to spend their limited time, she asks them dozens of questions, organized by life phase — things like what activities made them happiest as a child, and what they would change about their 40s and 50s.

Her approach is a twist on something called “life review,” where people systematically reflect on their past, through conversations or in writing, to identify character strengths and develop self-awareness and acceptance. The process can occur both with a partner or in small groups, and it typically unfolds in six to 10 weekly sessions.

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Ex-cnn journalist saima mohsin says network causing her “psychological, financial & physical stress” by kicking legal battle into “long grass”, everything we know about ‘my life with the walter boys’ season 2 so far.

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More wrangling of the Walter Boys by one Jackie Howard ( Nikki Rodriguez ) and their mother Katherine ( Sarah Rafferty ) lies in store as the second season of the popular YA Netflix series My Life With the Walter Boys is on its way.

Netflix swiftly renewed the show for another installment after Season 1 arrived at the end of 2023. The second season recently entered production.

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When will My Life With the Walter Boys Season 2 come out?

Is My Life With the Walter Boys Season 2 in production?

Yes! Season 2 has officially begun production in Calgary, Canada.

Who will be in My Life With the Walter Boys Season 2?

Returning series regulars in addition to Rodriguez and Rafferty include Marc Blucas, who plays Katherine’s husband George, Noa LaLonde who plays Cole Walter, Ashby Gentry who plays Alex Walter, Connor Stanhope (Danny Walter), Johnny Link (Will Walter), Corey Fogelmanis (Nathan Walter) and Jaylan Evans (Skylar Summerhill).

Zoë Soul will still recur in Season 2 but in fewer episodes. She plays Hayley, wife of eldest Walter brother Will (Johnny Link).

The recurring cast will include Isaac Arellanes (Isaac Garcia), Myles Perez (Lee Garcia), Alex Quijano (Richard), Ashley Tavares (Rara Jacobs), Dean Petriw (Jordan Walter), Alix West Lefler (Parker Wlater), Lennix James (Benny Walter), Alisha Newton (Erin), Ellie O’Brien (Grace), Kolton Stewart (Dylan), Mya Lowe (Kiley), Gabrielle Jacinto (Olivia), Jesse Lipscombe (Coach Allen), and Nathaniel Arcand (Mato Summerhill).

Who is behind Season 2 of My Life With the Walter Boys ?

Showrunner Melanie Halsall will steer Season 2 with Ed Glauser executive producing. Jason Priestly, who directed two episodes in Season 1, will return to direct several episodes in the second season in addition to serving as producer.

RELATED: ‘Reacher’ Wrestles Past 1B Minutes Viewed In Season 2’s Debut Week; ‘My Life With The Walter Boys,’ ‘The Crown’ Also Join Billion-Minute Club

What is My Life With the Walter Boys Season 2 About?

Although the author of Season 1’s source material Ali Novak just announced a sequel book to the novel My Life With the Walter Boys called My Return to the Walter Boys , this book won’t serve as a basis for Season 2.

The series took a different direction at the end of Season 1 than Novak’s novel, which hints at Jackie’s return more solidly than the end of the show, as Jackie boards a flight to New York to go back and live there with her Uncle Richard after the complicated love triangle she experiences with two of the Walter brothers.

“When you’re making a television series that you want to be returning, you have to make changes from a novel. I wanted to surprise the audience. I wanted to give the audience something a little bit different than they were expecting from the book,” Halsall told Deadline . “I wanted to leave it open-ended what Jackie was going to do and what boy she was gonna end up with,” Halsall said. “I’ve often said that maybe Jackie won’t end up with a boy but she’ll end up on her own. Maybe that’s still the case. It was a deliberate decision to make that change, and I think it was organic to the story.”

Halsall envisioned a multiple-season show from the beginning. Rodriguez applauded Jackie for choosing herself at the end of Season 1.

“Jackie’s going through a lot and she has really big dreams and goals, and so I really hope for Jackie that she doesn’t get too off track and doesn’t get too distracted and just remember what she really wants,” she told Deadline. “Ultimately, no one’s gonna look out for you the way that you would. So I think… her choosing herself is really important for people to see, and I kind of applaud Jackie for it to be honest.”

RELATED: ‘Leave The World Behind’ Marks A Second Week As Netflix’s Most-Watched Title; ‘My Life With The Walter Boys’ Takes Over TV

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