As a teenager, it's important to be authentic in everything you do

As a teen, it’s essential to embrace and celebrate your aptitudes and natural interests. When you are true to yourself, that authenticity will show in everything you do and help build strong foundations for future successes. Taking the time to explore what aptitudes you have and what sparks your passion is an important part of adolescence; the more in tune with yourself you can be, the easier it will be to make positive choices. Being your genuine self not only helps distinguish who you are but also gives you unique advantages no one else can offer. So seize this opportunity and get out there to discover who you really are!

Your extracurricular activities are a great way to show your authentic self

Extracurricular activities can be an excellent way to express your interest in a variety of fields and demonstrate the level of involvement you are willing to give. Whether it's starting up a club or joining an existing one, or developing a new interest such as gardening or calligraphy, your efforts show who you genuinely are. Participation not only allows you to share your energy, enthusiasm and talents with others, but is also a great way to build professional skills like communication, collaboration, and organizational abilities. Extracurriculars are indeed a great avenue for showing your authentic self!

Being inauthentic can lead to unhappiness and feeling like you're not good enough

Trying to be something that you're not can take a toll on your mental and physical health. Feeling like you are constantly trying to live up to an image of yourself or someone else can cause immense stress that could result in physical pain, lack of energy, and overall feeling down. It's essential to be accepting of who you are and all your flaws because it allows for true growth without the pressures from the external world. As challenging as it may be, it is ok to simply be yourself and accept that everything comes with imperfections. Embrace them and find peace with the real version of yourself; inauthentic versions of who we think we should be will lead us down a long path of unhappiness and feelings of inadequacy.

There are many ways to be authentic - find what works for you and stick with it!

Taking initiative to find what works for you and embracing it with full confidence can have a huge impact on your life. After all, being authentically yourself is something truly special that nobody else can do. Learning more about yourself and the things that make you feel most comfortable and represent who you are will open up limitless possibilities that you never dreamed of before. Taking initiative today to be authentic can lead to some amazing changes in the future!

Don't compare yourself to others in the college application process

Comparing yourself to your peers can be a highly stressful experience during college admissions. With so much pressure from schools, families and friends, it’s important to remember that college has no one-size-fits-all approach. Everyone has unique experiences, strengths and weaknesses, and it's essential to keep that in mind throughout the college application process. Instead of comparing yourself to others, focus on what makes you special and use your profile to illustrate who you are and why college admissions personnel should accept you. Put the work in, gain confidence in yourself, and the college you choose will ultimately benefit from having you as a student!

With all the pressures of the college admissions process and feeling like you need to keep up with everyone, it can be easy to lose sight of what's important - being your true and authentic self. As a teenager, it's important to focus on your own unique journey. Your extracurricular activities are a great place to show off the real you - so make sure the activities that you do are something you care about! Remember that being inauthentic can lead to unhappiness and feeling like you're not good enough, so don't compare yourself to anyone else and instead find what makes YOU happy and stay true to yourself. Don't be a bot - be your authentic self! This is something that will help you stay fulfilled through everything life throws at you now and in the future.