30) While in school, don’t opt for what’s “easy”. Take what interests you, but put effort into the subjects that don’t interest you. Despite what the teachers might say, struggling doesn’t mean you’re stupid – struggling is a part of it.
29) It’s fine if you want to take up a course for fun. It’s also fine if you want to take up a course because it’s practical. Just don’t be the jerk who thinks your course is better than that other course. Because-
28) You might not even use your course when you finally graduate. This is not a waste of money. You graduate with the discipline, know-how, and network of people you can rely on. You will find ways to use that wherever you may be, even if it is flipping burgers or taking out the trash somewhere.
27) When you’re good at something, pass it on.
26) Ask questions now, save your stupid points for later.
25) You will learn from jobs you hate.
24) Follow your heart, but learn from your heartbreak.
23) Respect your family as long as you live with them. Respect them even if you decide to part from them. Respect doesn’t mean you agree with them, you don’t even have to like them. Just take them as family. Whether you like it not, they will be the first one informed when the worst happens. They will be forced by law, at some point, to acknowledge that you exist – even if it means identifying the body.
22) “Selling out” goes both ways. You can either give up your soul for the money, or you let your work – in the office or with art – destroy you.
21) Even if you don’t make it to those promised coffee dates with people who matter, keep trying. Never give up.
20) If you must be an asshole, you should earn it first.
19) School won’t teach you everything. You may not even need a degree to do what you do. But if you must go down this route, you must be extremely good at what you do, and you have to work very hard to be consistently excellent at it.
18) Do things for free or work for peanuts while in school. Don’t wait until you graduate, you’ll have a significant advantage when you have some work experience under your belt.
17) Use birth control, seriously. Having a kid in your early twenties is a Russian roulette in life lessons. Sometimes, it works out just fine. But can you manage it if and when things do fall apart?
16) If you can’t save as much as you should, start with 5 pesos. Then build from there.
15) Know when it isn’t your calling without having to wait for frogs to fall out of the sky. Recognize patterns, recognize your strengths. See how you can best apply and build on your talents, instead of aggravating your weaknesses.
14) Be realistic about what you’re worth. HINT: it’s not about the school you come from, it’s about what you can do and how you’ve proven it over and over again.
13) If you’re creative, you archive obsessively. You do not have any excuse not to have a portfolio in this day and age and only so much talent can excuse a lazy ass.
12) When in doubt, go old school. Do it manually.
11) Don’t be afraid of what you’re worth, but be prepared to negotiate.
10) Get insurance, even if it’s the minimal accidental insurance plan. You’ll regret it if you keep putting it off.
9) If you can’t travel, meet new people — the type that aren’t in your immediate circle of friends.
8) It’s ok if you don’t forgive people, but you do need to let go and let live.
7) This city, this world, is too small to hold grudges.
6) You will outgrow people. Don’t feel bad about it.
5) It’s ok to do stuff for free once in awhile, but treat it as if it were a paying project and don’t be a pushover.
4) There’s a fine line between character building and reckless idiot. Choose wisely.
3) Manage expectations with other people and yourself.
2) If you don’t have anything nice to say, say it once then walk away.
1) I’ll figure the rest out. Check back again in 10 years.