You Have My Attention

Listen. That is all people want you to do when they are talking to you. Your undivided attention and respect is the greatest sense of reassurance to us teenagers. Here you are, sharing some of the most important moments in your life to people who you genuinely want to tell. We assume that they will want to hear us out, but unfortunately, that's not always the case. Instead, we experience the feeling of isolation and unworthiness when you are trying to express your feelings, and the person doesn't seem to care about you at all. In fact, they would rather tell you about their life and expect that you would care for them. Then you start to realize that these relationships seem to be a one-way street. Being who you are, you are genuinely ready to listen to your friends, ask questions, and offer solutions in any way that you can. Why don't they return the favor?

Nothing erodes self-esteem like not being heard. If everyone were to agree, then why do so many people ignore it? It's sad, but the world can be selfish. Everyone is trying to get to the top, seeking and obtaining any advice from others in order to succeed. People are so busy on promoting themselves that they feel they don't have the time to sit down and hear someone else out. I wish I knew this earlier, and I'm still a teenager. I understand that people might not care about me, but does that mean I should still care for them? This is a question I see myself struggling with every day. Am I a bad friend if I want to think for myself? Am I a bad person if I don't have advice to give them? My short answer: Absolutely not! 

If you find that you're friends didn't really hear you out, and instead just brushed it off, I get that it can be really frustrating. But I feel like if it doesn't happen that frequently, then its strangely normal. Teenagers today are so busy and extremely focused on their futures. We can't really blame each other for wanting to do something for ourselves, because its who we are. Now, if you think back and can confidently say that you are never heard when you want to be, you don't deserve to be treated like that. You are important and so is everything that you have to say. If you are not given the attention that is appropriate, surround yourself with people who you know will be more than willing to support you and help you out. I choose to believe that maintaining healthy relationships that reciprocate favors is the key to happiness. 

The dismissal of your viewpoint causes levels of anxiety and sadness that no one should ever have to experience. Don't let people take advantage of you, you are worth more than them. It breaks my heart to see people unaware of others' true intentions. If I could, with one stroke of a wand, cure all unhealthy relationships, trust me, I would! You'll know when you find those true friends who know exactly how to respond in every moment. I hope you guys find those people as soon as possible, and if you already discovered them, congratulations you've made it! I wish you all the best and don't for one second think that what you have to contribute is useless, so keep your head up! Never forget that you were put on this Earth for a reason and that I'm always here for you too!

-N

Page 1, the First of 365

Finally! It's 2017! It's time to reflect and appreciate our fantastic last year. I hope you took the time to celebrate the successes, positivity, and happiness that 2016 has presented to you. The struggles, disappointments, and tears have carried you down this path of hard work and dedication. It will all be worth it, I promise! Another year of dreaming, accomplishing, and persevering down in the books. Here's to new friendships, new passions, and new attitudes that have developed this year. Thank you 2016!

Reflecting back, we have been through countless smiles and laughter. I am grateful for every happy memory that my friends, family, and I have shared. Whenever I surround myself with these people who know me best, I'm on top of the world! I am so lucky for those people who calm me down and remind me that I need to take care of my health. Thank you to the friends who smile hello, wave goodbye, and express the little things that mean the world to me. Thank you to those who know exactly what to say and how to get me to laugh...for a really long time. You guys make the hardest classes and practices even more enjoyable and I hope you all know how much you meant to me. Shout out to the friends who surprised me with one of the most thoughtful gift this year, no one has ever done that for me before. I am humbled to have friends who I can learn and grow with, especially when they are so intelligent and humble! Then, there are the new friends in my life, it was great to meet you and I'm looking forward to strengthening our friendship! I appreciate my family for supporting me and giving me opportunities that they never got to have. Thank you for never giving up on me despite the many times I screw up. What did I do to deserve these people in my life? 

I think many of you can agree that it was not simply a smooth ride, there were definitely bumps and potholes here and there. And that is completely normal, so I've heard. I'm in the same boat as you! All we can do is learn and not dwell. This is our chance to forget about what could have been or worry about what if. Instead, we must embrace what will be. How can we move past our missteps, how can we turn a trip into a stride, and how can we learn and thrive. Maybe I didn't get as far as I wanted this year, maybe people lost faith in me, and maybe there were moments where I just felt stuck and didn't know what to do. If anyone feels the same way I do, I know we are just trying to look for answers, as if it is written in a sacred "How to Succeed" book somewhere. It's been more than a year and I haven't arrived at that magical solution. 

But, you know what we can do? Change our mindset! 2017 will be an opportunity to set out on new adventures, to do more, to give more, and a chance to do it better this year. I've been told that if you consistently work hard, if you are ready to make things difficult for yourself, if you radiate self-confidence and modesty, if you are open to seeking help and advice, if your actions speak more than your words, and if you trust that you did everything you could do to prepare yourself for this moment, success will surely find you. It is time that I start believing and living by it. I guess what I am trying to say is we have to stop thinking about what we want to accomplish and instead, start doing them! 

Honestly, I hope all your dreams start coming true today. I want to see you change the world! I've seen the potential that teenagers have today, and in my eyes I see nothing but success and triumphs in your futures. I wish that not a single tear or patch of darkness catches you by surprise. I want today to be the beginning of fresh starts with nothing but aspirations and ambitions for you and your families. May your new year be filled with light, love, and peace beyond the horizons. I wish that not a single negative thought reach your mind and not a single loved one leave your side. You are capable of surprising the world. I wish you all the best this year! It's time your voyage sets sail and everything will be just fine, I swear. It's been real 2016! That's a wrap!

-N