ASSIGNMENTS:
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Austin
Denver, Colorado USA
Email Austin
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REPORTS:
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Advice to Austin, from ages six to nineteen:
1) When your Dad promises to build a tree house for you, and then doesn't, don't make him feel bad. It is because of neighborhood codes, not because he doesn't want to. He will feel horrible about this. Let him know it's ok.
2) When you go to visit your grandmother, try to interact more with her. Don't say that you're going just to visit the fish. Try harder. Yes, you are young, but still...
3) Do not ask Dad who he loves more, you or his mother. There is no reason to make him choose between his son and his dying mother. Also, do not ask him about the words you can't say on T.V. You really don't need to hear your Dad say the word "cunt".
4) Don't think you can play sports. Don't play just to fit in. You know you don't like them, and you aren't good.
5) When everyone picks on "D", don't join in. He will become lonely, and you will later blame yourself for his lack of friends. Also, don't call him gay. He is not gay. You are.
6) Make more than two good friends. In high-school, they will both develop different interests, and you will have a lonely freshman year. Try harder to make new friends, don't just bug the ones you have
7) You will meet "N" freshman year. It is ok to be friends with him, and he is a great guy. But that is all that he is, a friend. Don't waste three years thinking you can make him fall in love with you.
8) Don't be so angry at your friends for having other friends.
9) Talk to "BH" earlier in high-school. She is amazing, and the friends you will make through her are amazing too
10) Don't date "M". You are gay (and you know this). Stop dating girls. It will only cause drama, and people will get hurt.
11) Try to avoid dating people you don't have any feelings for.
12) Try to fight less with Mom. Yes, it is hard, but sometimes you just have to give in. Don't worry, you won't live with her forever. You relationship gets better once you leave the state.
13) Everyone in high-school has acne. Everyone is insecure about how they look. Everyone worries about what people think of them. Don't avoid people because of how you look. You will start to grow into your looks, and become more confident. Don't avoid making friends because you think you are ugly.
14) When you go to "D"'s luau, do not get drunk and try to spend "quality time" with "N". It will end up with you wet, crying, and hugging him on a lawn somewhere in the neighborhood. It will end ok, but looking back, it was very awkward for both of you.
15) Come out earlier. Most people already suspect, and no one will hate you for being yourself.
16) When you start to work at the zoo, don't think you're above "K". She is a great girl, and you will become friends.
17) Be nicer to your brother. He can be a bastard, but so can you.
18) "R" will not be a good friend. Don't become too attached.
19) When you go to "A"'s house for her party, don't drink so much. You will just make a fool of yourself, and you will have to buy her new bathroom towels the next day because you vomited up red punch all over them.
20) When you come home from "A"'s party and you parents ask you if you are drunk, don't lie. They aren't mad because you were drinking, only that you lied about it. Plus, they heard you fall down walking up the stairs.
21) Don't stress about school. You will get a last minute scholarship to an out of state school. Tell God thank you for this scholarship. Often.
22) Your freshman year of college, be wary. You will make some good friends, but you will also make some false ones.
23) After the costume party, when "K" asks you to go back to his room, think about the consequences, and what it will mean.
24) (If you skip number 24) Don't fool around with "K". It will kill your friendship, and you will be hurt afterwards. He doesn't know how to handle what you did together. He has his own issues to work out.
25) Choose to spend more time with "L", less time with "M". "L" will become a great friend, "M" will become an ok acquaintance.
26) Talk to your roommate more often. He is a very cool guy, and you will only find this out the last quarter of school.
27) Stop drinking after you throw up.
28) Examine why you date "S". I'm not saying don't do it, just don't do it for the wrong reasons. You don't have to go out with every guy who says you are cute.
29) After you break up with "S", don't get back together with him. And make the first break up less dramatic. It was only two months, not five years. Don't make it into a soap opera.
30) Over the summer, examine why you date "Br". Be honest with yourself. He will get his feelings severely hurt after you break up.
31) When coming out to your parents, force them to discuss the issue. You will have to bring it up more than once
32) Accept that you are growing away from some of your friends back home. Learn to be ok with that. Everyone has changed since third grade.
33) Be nicer to your Mom. Making her cry doesn't mean that you won. Avoid mentioning that you aren't planning on living in Oklahoma ever again, even if it is the truth. Don't think you are better now that you have left the state.
34) Worth repeating: Don't date people you don't have feelings for. It won't make you less lonely, and will only make things messy. Being single is ok.
35) Stop being insecure. You are not ugly. You are not always annoying those around you. You are funny, on occasion. You are what you are, so start being okay with that. Don't waste time on people who don't like you, because there are plenty of people who do. Love your friends.
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