5 Things I Wish I Knew When I Was 16

I've said it many times before but I've never believed it more than right now..."The older I become, the more I realize how much I don't know."

When you're young you think you know EVERYTHING. 

16 year olds are the smartest people on the planet, or at least they think they are. I thought I was.

Life has a way of "teaching" you lessons along the way. At 27 years old I feel like I am just now beginning to understand life, love, and leadership. 

Here are 5 things I wish I knew when I was 16:

1. College Is Not Cheap

Good News: I have an undergrad and a Master's degree.

Bad News: I owe $70,000 to this girl named Sallie(mae) and am expected to pay every month until Jesus comes back.

  I'm all for education, but don't go to college just to go to college. College used to be something that could help your resume stand out when you were applying for jobs; not anymore. Tuition prices continue to rise while the significance and value of a college degree continues to drop. 

If you don't know what you want to do with your life just yet that's totally fine. Take a year and work a job and figure it out.

Non-specialized degrees will cost you thousands and still leave you at the bottom floor of your career search.

My advice would be to choose a specialized degree or even a trade and go for it. College is too expensive to go just to "experience" it.

Also, get good grades in high school and apply for every scholarship you can. 

2. Your Friends Will Shape Who You Become

I've heard it said "Friends are family you can choose".
  
Well....choose wisely

Surround yourself with people who see the best in you, who believe in the things you do, who have a good reputation. 

The friends you choose play a much bigger role in shaping who you will become then you realize. 

Statistics show that most people become an average of their five closest friends. 

Another popular phrase says "Show me your friends and I'll show you your future."

Want to be successful? Faithful? Love God? Then surround yourself with people who will make you better. 

Don't compromise who you are and who God has called you to be just so you can "fit in". It's not worth it. 

#KnowNewFriends

3. Saving is Sexier than Spending

Your future spouse won't care if you had the latest J's or popular name brand clothes at the time. 

You know what's sexy to an adult....MONEY IN THE BANK.

When you're young you spend money you don't have to buy things you don't need to impress people you don't like.  What kind of joke is that.

Sure, treat yourself from time to time but don't live outside your means. 

Put God first financially and then put as much money as you can in the bank.

Some of my generation have big rims but no real estate. It's not a good look to park your 2015 car next to your run down apartment. 

Young person, start a ROTH IRA. If you start saving now you have this little thing called time on your side. With time and compound interest on your side you can retire a MILLIONAIRE...no really, I'm serious.   

No one ever looks back and says "Man, I wish I would have bought those shoes." 

I look back and think "Man, I wish I would have saved more."

Read Proverbs for more zingers.

4. My Parents Knew What They Were Talking About

Listen to your parents. Most of the time they know what they're talking about. 

Seek their advice and then listen with sincere openness. Chances are they've gone through EXACTLY what you're going through. 

They're not perfect but they want what's best for you. 

Avoid the temptation to treat your peers like your parents and your parents like your peers. 

Listen to mom and dad and things will go a little smoother.

And all the parents said "AMEN". 

5. Nothing is More Important than Your Relationship With Jesus.

Nothing. 

Not friends, not boyfriends or girlfriends, not being popular NOTHING. 

I regret the times I put other things ahead of my relationship with God. 

I've learned that if you put God first then everything else seems to fall into place. (See Matt 6:33)

You can have all the religion you want but if you don't have a real relationship then you don't have anything at all.

Put God first and watch Him orchestrate your life. It will be a life that is beyond your ability to ask, think, or even imagine. 



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