My first blog post, my 38th birthday. In many ways, it feels like yesterday that I turned 18. Most days though, it feels like 20 years ago! Where was I in life then and where am I now? When I turned 18, I was getting ready to graduate from high school. If I could tell my 18-year-old self anything, I would simply state, “Don’t wait.” Don’t wait to feel brave, just do it. Don’t wait to travel, take a chance, or write that novel. Don’t wait to tell someone how you feel, what you think, or move to another city. Go for it!

If I could say what I really wanted to teenagers in my office, it would be to pay attention to what you were passionate about when you were in elementary and middle school. Those are the things that you should be doing, pursuing, and engaging in. It is easy to lose track of yourself when you are navigating peer relations, hormones, and an intense course load. The pressure to fit in and be somebody in the eyes of others has clouded many people’s dreams and hindered their futures. What I would say to my younger self is BE YOU. Own it. You are going to stumble, you will make a fool of yourself sometimes . . . in love, in life, and in your career. It is okay. Breathe. And no matter what, don’t wait. Take advantage of the day you have right now. Make an opportunity when there isn’t one. Just go for it! The only thing standing in your way is yourself!