Welcome to Current Events Conversation, where each week we round up some of our favorite responses to one of our student writing prompts.
Inspired by Melissa Kirsch’s annual roundup of the best guidance readers received during the year, we invited teenagers to share their own. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? we asked.
Below, we’ve selected some of our favorite tips, hacks and recommendations that have been offered to teens by their parents, coaches, teachers, friends and more about how to live better.
Thank you to everyone who joined the conversation this week, including students from Valley Stream North High School in Valley Stream, N.Y.; St. Peter High School in St. Peter, Minn.; and Watsonville High School in Watsonville, Calif.
Please note: Comments have been edited and condensed.
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You can’t control the outcome, but you can control the effort you put in.
After I finished a final exam, I was very worried about what my score would be and kept thinking about how much my grade would decline if I didn’t do well on a final, while thinking back to how hard I had worked to be at an A. That’s when my cousin told me she saw how hard I worked, and “If you try your hardest, you did your best, and you should be proud of yourself for that.”
This advice really stayed with me because I realized that I cannot always control the outcome, but I can always control the effort I put in. It helped me stop being so hard on myself and focus more on learning and growing rather than just worrying about the outcome.
Life starts outside your comfort zone.
This advice was given to me by my band director in the midst of a motivational speech about how we shouldn’t be scared to take chances in our music. However, he didn’t say this phrase with just music in mind. He tells us all the time that what we do in class isn’t just about notes and rhythms, but about real life. Not only should we step outside of our comfort zones in band and any other extracurricular activities, but we should also do it in our daily lives. Whether that means asking a boy or girl out, or taking a job opportunity, or flying across the country to go to a university, we should always be outside of our box of comfort in order to truly live.
Aim for the moon.
The best advice I ever received was: “Aim for the moon. In the worst case, you’ll land among the stars.”
In a generation where trying too hard can feel “cringe,” having ambition can sometimes feel scary. When we turn sixteen in France, every student has to complete an internship. Most students choose to intern at their parents’ workplace or apply to somewhere that feels realistic.
I’ve always wanted to study business. In 2024, while I was looking for an internship, I saw that LVMH was ranked as the largest French company by market capitalization. Following my mother’s advice, I immediately thought, “Why not try?”
But imagine being sixteen, with no connections, aiming for the biggest company in the country.
Instead of giving up, I followed the advice.
After earning a certification and sending hundreds of emails, I finally got the internship. During this experience I was mentored by incredible people who had studied business, and it truly shaped the way I approach college and the professional world.
So dream big. Sometimes you’ll get exactly what you wanted. And sometimes, you’ll find something even better along the way.
You’re not at fault for your first thought, but you are for your second.
The best advice I have ever received was from my dad after a really hard day from school. He told me something along the lines of, “You are not at fault for your first thought, but you are for your second,” which truly changed my perspective on how to react to stressful circumstances. This resonated with me because it taught me an important lesson of allowing myself the initial shock but then taking accountability for my choices afterward.
Don’t shrink yourself to fit other people’s expectations.
I used to worry constantly about how I came across, adjusting the way I talked, acted, even joked, depending on who I was with. It took a long time to realize that no amount of shape‑shifting guarantees acceptance. People will form their opinions regardless, and chasing their approval only leaves you exhausted. What actually matters is being able to look at yourself and feel at peace with who you are.
Go to bed early.
The best advice I have ever received was to go to bed at 9:30. Going to bed at 9:30 gave me time to do things other than my daily hygiene routine because I was getting up at 6 a.m. This allowed me to do what I needed to do in the morning, such as brush my teeth, take a shower, and fix my hair for school. It also allowed me to get more sleep and be energized for the day ahead.
Who you surround yourself with is who you will become.
This advice was given to me by my parents and it really hit me because it is very true when you start to think about it. When I was 12, in middle school, I used to hang out with many kids who were always getting into trouble and they, at times, persuaded me to also act the way they were. Many young kids now don’t believe in this saying, but honestly from experience I can truly say that who you decide to spend your time with will play a factor in how you live your life going forward.
— Damian, Montclair High School
You don’t have to be perfect, you just have to keep going.
My mom has always told me this, and it has really helped me grow into the person I am today. I learned this lesson while preparing a new song on the piano. I was so close to getting it right, but there was one part that just wouldn’t work. I felt upset and discouraged. Instead of giving up, I kept practicing. I broke the piece into smaller parts, and before I knew it, I was able to play the whole song.
— Greisi, Julia Masterman School, Philadelphia, PA
What’s meant for you will find you.
The best piece of advice I have received is that everything will find me at the right time and the right place if it’s meant for me. I’ve always been the type to overthink before making decisions and have the worry of “what if this is the wrong decision,” but having a different perspective and being open-minded has helped so much with the way I personally view situations.
Everything happens for a reason.
“Everything happens for a reason” was the best piece of advice that stayed with me for years, despite denial. I found it difficult to accept this idea because I would complain about my hardships, wondering why things unfolded the way they did. However, my mother consistently reminded me that every experience, whether good or bad, carries its own importance. Some experiences are meant to last, while others serve as lessons designed to foster our growth.
Write down your goals.
I watch a channel on YouTube and one of the advices that really stuck with me was writing everything you want and need to accomplish on a paper or in a journal. Whenever I look back at what I wrote, at the time, it sounded impossible, but rereading what my goals were and realizing what I accomplished makes me feel accomplished.
Don’t rush your decisions just because everyone else is moving fast.
The best advice I’ve ever received was from my dad, who told me, “Don’t rush your decisions just because everyone else is moving fast.” He said it during a time when I felt pressured to make choices about school, sports, and work all at once. It stuck with me because it reminded me that moving at my own pace usually leads to better outcomes and less stress.
Find the fun within the mundane.
The best advice I’ve ever received was to romanticize life and try to find the fun within the mundane. It is very easy for our lives to weigh us down. Whether that be a heavy workload, long day at school, or an early morning. If we take these things and look at them from a different angle, they might start to seem better than they really are.
Just do it.
The best piece of advice I have ever received is from multiple people. They have told me: “Just do it.” You’re going to have to do it anyway, so why waste time complaining and bargaining with someone to make the work lighter? If you’re exercising or doing homework, it’s you who benefits in the end.
— Melanie, Julia R. Masterman, Philadelphia, PA
If you can’t think about what to write, write about that.
It applies to much more than writing. It stuck with me because it isn’t just about writing — it’s about how, even in moments that feel blank or hopeless, there’s always something to begin with.
— Sahil, Aitchison College Lahore
Nothing good happens after midnight.
The best advice I have ever received came from my mom when I first asked what my curfew was in 10th grade. Instead of giving me a specific time, she simply said, “Nothing good happens after midnight.” At the time, she sounded strict, but as I’ve gotten older, that advice has truly resonated with me. I began to realize that most poor decisions, unnecessary drama, and risky situations tend to happen late at night when people are tired and not clearly thinking. That simple statement wasn’t just about a curfew, it was about making smart choices and knowing when to remove myself from situations that could lead to trouble.
It’s OK to not be OK.
I think one of the best pieces of advice I have ever heard was, “It is OK to not be OK.” So many people think that when something is wrong, they have to hide it and not talk about it. I used to think that, but found it was so much easier to find someone who will be there for you.
— Chloe, Valley Stream North High School
If you know you’re not what they say you are, then why do you listen to them?
I was in third grade when I had first experienced getting bullied. The advice I got from my mom has never left my head. She told me, “If you know you’re not what they say you are, then why do you listen to them?” When she told me this, it was almost like something clicked in my head. My mind-set changed, and ever since then, the view others have on me doesn’t matter anymore.
— Maria, Watsonville High School
One grade does not define you.
This particular piece of advice resonated with me because growing up my parents have always encouraged me to get good grades and work hard, but knowing that getting one bad grade will not affect me that much, it helps take off some of the pressure of those expectations.
Fall in love with the process, rather than the result.
The best piece of advice that I have been given was by my teacher, and he said “to fall in love with the process rather than the result.” It has stuck with me since because I often catch myself focusing more on where I will be rather than how I will make sure to get there.
You can’t decide other people’s actions, only your own.
This piece of advice helped me detach from a lot of situations where I felt that someone wasn’t doing something right, good, or hurting me. It made me understand that I can only ever control my actions and words, and that how other people choose to respond to that is their own decision.
Everything comes to an end.
Though it sounds kind of depressing because it sort of implies death, it’s supposed to be comforting. It reminds me that things like stress, embarrassment, or any bad situation won’t last forever. This mind-set helps me push through situations instead of feeling stuck in them.
— Chandler, Valley Stream North High School
Slow down.
My favorite piece of advice never came from a parent or grandparent; it came from Ferris Bueller: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Arguably one of the most famous movie quotes ever, it resonates with me. I try to slow my life down, focus on living in the moment, not in the past or the future. I feel that in our modern world, we have lost touch with reality, always thinking about tomorrow and never letting go of the past. I feel that taking that moment to stop and look around once in a while is critical.
Live life to the fullest because you only live once.
This was told to me by my uncle, who passed away when I was younger, somebody who dealt with a lot of personal health issues, and somebody who felt he didn’t get to live his life to the fullest. He always told me that every day should be treated like it’s your last, because you never know when it may be your turn. Ever since he told me this advice, I’ve always appreciated every aspect of life.
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