Linda Gerber is the author of the amazing Death By... series. Here she is telling us all about her sixteenth year. =)
---
16
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HOPE!
I have a few more years on me than Hope does. No, we are not going to discuss how many! But I do remember 16 very well. 16 was a good year. It also sucked sometimes. That’s just the way 16 rolls. Looking back, I wish I had known that. I wish I’d have known that the dark times always get better. It would have made the suckiness easier to deal with.
When I was 16, I was way too worried about what other people thought about stupid things like my clothes, if I had a zit, how my hair looked and other superficial junk. I wish I would have relaxed and enjoyed being myself more. Now I know that most people don’t care about my wardrobe or my bad hair day. And if they do, they’re not worth my time.
Guys at 16 were an enigma. A lot of my self-worth was wrapped up in whether or not the guy I liked liked me back. I wish I hadn’t given them so much power.
I’ve loved books forever, but at 16 I never thought I could actually write one because someone once criticized my writing. I wish I hadn’t let one discouragement keep me from following a dream until much, much later.
It would have been cool at 16 to have seen as much of the world as I have now. I would like to have discovered non-top 40 music earlier! Or started reading Kipling. In short, I wish I had explored diversity more.
Here’s a switch for you. Now I’m (*mumble*) years old. I’m the next generation up. I’m a mom with kids and a mortgage payment and PTO meetings. Sometimes I feel worlds away from what it was like when I was 16. What do you wish us older people could learn or remember from 16?
---
Thank you so much, Linda!
Everyone who comments on this post will be entered to win a copy of Death by Denim as long as you live in the United States or Canada. To be entered, answer the question that Linda ends her guest post with. Leave your e-mail address with your comment or your entry will be disqualified.
If you don't feel comfortable commenting, email hopesblog[at]hotmail[dot]com with the subject being "DEATH BY DENIM GIVEAWAY."
hope.
14 comments:
Awww, I really liked that guest blog, it was cute in a looking-back-at-what-i-should-have-known-kind-of-way which I'm sure was full of good advise, but I'll have to take her word for it since I'm not even sixteen yet...
But anywho, like I said I really liked the guest blog. Kudos to you Linda Gerber.
What would I like adults/"older people" would learn/remember from 16?
Well, as I said I'm not sixteen yet, but as a teenager I would like adults/"older people" to learn/remember is that... even if you do tell us what to not to do, trying to protect us or what not, we still have to make some mistakes on our own, or else we will never truly understand why we're not supposed to do those things. (Does that make since?)
Anyway, great interview, and I would love to be entered to win Death by Denim.
Dani <3
lightningstreak123@comcast.net
Wow I really liked hearing about all the things that she wished she would have know and looking back when she was 16.
And to answer her question, what do I wish adults could learn or remember from 16....
This is kinda tough, i think one thing I wish adults could learn from when they were 16 is that they were 16 once and when they are punishing their, now 16 year old, think about the things that you did when you were younger. I remember when I was 16, which was only two years ago, getting into trouble for things that my parents told me they did as kids. I know that they dont want us making mistakes and things but sometimes we can only learn from them. If we dont learn from them now it might be worse making them later and there might be worse consequences.
I think I rambled a little on that one. I just hope it makes sense :)
Jordan
jmoose09@gmail.com
Perhaps to remember how immediate and pressing each moment feels, that emotions are still so important and real.
JenP
jpetroroy@gmail.com
I love that post!
addictedtobooks1993@yahoo.com
well im not rly sure....maybe try 2 remember what its like not to have as much freedom as you might have wanted and thats how some of us feel now.No offense to anyone.Just try to remember.
Good point, Dani. There are experiences you have to have yourself in order to learn. I think we hope you'll avoid some of them though and learn from *other* peoples' mistakes to save yourself a whole lot of heartache. We need to chill sometimes and take a step back and hope you'll make the right choices.
This looks like a recurring theme, Jordan! Probably remembering what it was like when we were 16 is *why* we don't want to let you make your own mistakes! Ha! (But, hey, we learned from them and grew from them... I suppose we should give you the same opportunity.)
So right, JenP! I still remember very clearly being frustrated that my parents didn't think my concerns were that pressing because I was 'just a kid.'
Thanks, Amy!
Anonymous, I think this fits with Dani's and Jordan's comments; parents need to learn to give you the freedom to make your own choices, right?
Lots of good stuff here. Keep it coming!
Hmm, keep being open and adventurous, I hope I'll still want to meet new people and travel around the world when I'm an adult. And don't take everything so serious, allow yourself to relax and have a great time! You can have fun and be spontaneous when your "old" too! Even if you do have to be responsible most of the time.
-Sara
sosarora_11(AT)hotmail(DOT)com
Great post!
What I wish adults/older people would remember from 16? The importance of privacy - I remember feeling so grown up and valuing my privacy but my parents and most adults still treated me much like a child.
gaby317nyc AT gmail DOT com
I wish adults would remember that 16-year-olds are not stupid. They will know when someone talks down to them, so doing so in a book is a bad idea. Luckily, YA is growing out of this.
paradoxrevealed (at) aim (dot) com
Great guest blog! I really wish adults would remember that 16 year olds/ teens are not sex maniacs! Not all 16 year old girls are going to show all the skin they can possibly get away with every time they leave the house. It stinks for everyone to assume they need to warn teen girls constantly not to dress like a hooker!
pepsivanilla14(at)hotmail(dot)com
do you wish us older people could learn or remember from 16?
Learn to trust and respect each other. They're not kids anymore and if you tell them something you don't have to repeat it every other day.
jen4777[at]hotmail.com
Your post was thought provoking and interesting. I would like adults to learn and remember from 16 year olds. It is important to give us the chance to experience life, to travel, to have the freedom to make wiser choices and to be independent since soon adulthood will be here and we will be responsible for so much. To take us seriously and realize that life is short and we grow up quickly. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
I actually just turned 16 a couple of days ago. They should remember that we have a life and want to have fun, so you need not be so strict to us. Plus, sometimes parents can be embarassing and I'm sure they would remember that.
spicedice45@gmail.com
Post a Comment