10 things I’d like to tell my 17 year-old self

well, like sara, i also had to wait 5 years to grow into my nose.

1. swim smarter, not harder. you're always going to be scrawny, so don't bother lifting weights to "get big." just pretend that you're struggling & working hard when the coaches/teammates/othergirlsintheweightroom are looking.


2. don't go skiing in january. you'll tear your LCL and it will hurt. a lot.


3. take an art class.
   yeah, one that requires you to be critiqued and graded for what you "think looks cool." constructive criticism is good! and they probably wouldn't understand it anyway.


4. go to college. and go to northwest for your first year of college, you'll love it. then hate it, then want to leave. and that's okay.


5. don't spend $28 on an urban outfitters t-shirt. you're cool without it.


6. even though you want to get your lip pierced, don't do it. it will leave a mark. trust me.


7. don't let freshmen play "kick jeff's car game" after swim practice. dad is going to be pissed.


8. take off your headphones that are blaring dashboard confessional when you're walking around in the hallway. life isn't that bad & i swear someone understands what you're going through.


9. you've got a master key to the high school, use it wisely. & more often.


10. utilize your class time wisely, and by wisely, i mean work on the kansas city star crossword puzzle during class so you can finish it before kimberly does.