If I could turn back time and step into my teenage years once more, I would do a few things differently. Not because I regret those years, but because hindsight is a powerful thing.

Adolescence is a strange, exhilarating, and often confusing phase. It is a time when you feel invincible one moment and utterly lost the next. It is the age of self-discovery, first loves, deep friendships, and daring dreams – mixed with uncertainty, insecurity, and the overwhelming pressure to figure everything out.

But if I were an adolescent again, here is what I would do differently.

I Would Worry Less About Fitting In

Back then, it felt like everything depended on being accepted by friends, by schoolmates, by society. I cared too much about what people thought, about saying the “right” things, dressing a certain way, or hiding parts of myself that did not seem to fit.

But now I know: nobody really has it all figured out. The people I tried so hard to impress were also trying to impress someone else. If I were an adolescent again, I would embrace my quirks and stop shrinking myself just to blend in.

I Would Speak Up More

There were moments when I stayed silent when I should have spoken. Times when I disagreed but nodded along just to keep the peace. Times when I let someone make me uncomfortable because I didn’t want to seem “difficult.”

If I had a second chance, I would use my voice. I would ask more questions, challenge unfairness, and say no without guilt. Because silence often benefits everyone except the person staying quiet.

I Would Be Kinder to Myself

Adolescence comes with an internal dialogue that can be brutal. “You are not good enough.” “You are not attractive enough.” “You are failing at life.” Those voices were loud, and I believed them too often.

Looking back, I wish I had realised that perfection is a myth and that self-worth is not measured by grades, social status, or Instagram likes. If I were an adolescent again, I would be gentler with myself. I would remind myself that growth takes time and that mistakes are not failures they are lessons.

I Would Take More Risks

Not reckless risks, but the kind that make life fuller. I would say yes to opportunities instead of doubting myself. I would audition for that play, try out for that sport, and stop assuming I was not “good enough.”

Because now I know: the fear of failure keeps you stuck. And in the end, the things you regret most are not the mistakes you made, but the chances you did not take.

I Would Prioritize My Mental Health

Growing up, mental health was not a topic people talked about often. Stress, anxiety, and sadness were just things you pushed through. But I now understand that mental health is health. And taking care of it does not make you weak rather it makes you wise.

If I were an adolescent again, I would check in with myself more. I would rest when I needed to, ask for help when things got overwhelming, and remind myself that it is okay not to have all the answers right away.

I Would Love Without Fear But Also with Wisdom

Ah, young love. It felt so intense, so all-consuming. I thought some relationships would last forever, that heartbreaks would never heal, that love was supposed to be dramatic to be real.

If I were an adolescent again, I would still allow myself to love but with clearer eyes. I would understand that love should never hurt, that my worth is not defined by someone else’s affection, and that the right people will respect, not just desire, me.

I Would Trust That Everything Works Out

At that age, every problem felt like the end of the world. A bad grade, a lost friendship, a rejection – each one seemed permanent. But now I know that life moves on, that setbacks are temporary, and that even the worst days eventually become stories you tell, not wounds you carry.

If I were an adolescent again, I would remind myself that no situation defines me forever. I would hold on to hope, take things one step at a time, and trust that even when life does not go as planned, it often leads to something better.

And Finally…

Adolescence is messy, beautiful, and fleeting. If I could live it again, I would not try to get everything right. I would just try to live it fully.

And maybe that is the best advice I could give to anyone in their teens right now: Be present. Be kind to yourself. Take chances. And know that who you are today is just the beginning of who you’ll become.

Because trust me, your future self is already proud of you.