2024 allowed me to live with my younger brother for the first time in almost a decade, and although I am still figuring things out living together led me to lots of self-reflection. Here is the advice I would give my past me.
If you're 10–20: Believe it or not. These are great years.
- Learn English. You don't use it daily. Your school botches it. You have self-limiting beliefs about your intellectual capacity. True. Still, do everything to improve your English. It will be the most important skill you could learn.
- Your environment does not value education. So, you believe that reading, writing, books and ideas are for soft people. You are wrong.
- Start journaling daily. Track things until you find the right diet, fitness routine and sleep schedule.
- Don't be so tough with your parents. Life in Venezuela is difficult. They have done a great job considering where they started.
- Enjoy the time with your brother. You will spend the rest of your life looking for friendships that resemble him. You won't find them.
- Practice more sports. Try any sport you can. But, don't waste time watching them on TV.
- Be kind to people. Don't be a bully and don't let others bully you.
- Seek opportunities to spend time out of Venezuela and after High School go to North America.
- Learn how to dance. Your future self will thank you for it.
- Don't obsess over your physical appearance and flashy objects.
- Explore Venezuela. Visit Salto Angel, Canaima and Los Roques with your parents, if you can. Each year that passes will become harder.
- Get summer camp jobs even if your parents are against it.
- The best way to endure school is to excel and avoid conflict with the staff.
- Do the Big Five Personality test as soon as possible. Knowing yourself is as important as exploring the world.
- Don't pay attention to politics. Your life revolves around inflation, Chavez and the price of the American dollar. But none of that is under your control.
- Go deep on what you love: Sports, biology, psychology and writing.
- Wet your toes on the things you fear: English, Math, Physics, dancing.
- Be social but don't obsess over your social circle and be careful with alcohol.
If you're 20–30: I don't know yet. I just turned 30 and most of my decisions are yet to pan out.
If you find this useful, let me know. Also, check the website that inspired me to build this section here.