My dear, sweet, not-so innocent Sarah.
10 years ago, meaning January 2005, you’re just finishing your second year at Ryerson, falling madly in love with a guy that you think you’ll marry. You think most of your life will be spent in Canada but you have no idea that things will change so quickly in a couple of years. Most of your time is spent on reading fashion mags or you’re out partying every weekend at your all-Asian Friday nights and calculating popularity points on Friendster. Life is pretty awesome right?
10 years later and it looks like nothing has changed that much. Future Sarah’s still reading fashion magazines but this time she’s in them and has fallen madly in and out of love so many times she’s lost count. She’s definitely living her unfathomable dream of a career in entertainment and by the way, she lives in Malaysia.
Here’s what future-Sarah can share with past-Sarah:
1. Do your homework, document what you love.
Whatever you love, keep at it and do it 100%. Don’t do work just because you have to, do work because you want to. Those who go above and beyond stand apart from the rest. If you realize you spend most of your time reading about fashion, start putting things together and take initative. If you love makeup, start reviewing it and make your own notes about it.
The closer you are to finding your passion, the closer you are to being happy. Don’t let others define what makes you happy. Engulf, immerse and embroil yourself. Find your mentor, seek advice, never stop learning. Do this and you’ll be miles ahead of everyone else around you.
2. Make genuine friendships, make time for them.
Sarah, while the girls you meet in the clubs may seem fun, they’ll only stay while the fun lasts. They are part of a facade you create to make people think you’re something that you’re not (and stay away from the unnecessary alcohol calories too).
Instead, meet up with the friends that will always be honest when you need them to be, and the ones that send you a private message on Friendster who want to check up on you. Or the ones who know you’re so broke they invite you over to their house and cook for you. Those are your ride-or-die real friends.
Investing in good friendships can help you build the person you are, after all, you are the company you keep!
3. Keep your standards high for yourself.
It’s easy to make mistakes and deal with them later on. But its not easy to forget them, especially when they are damaging to those around you including yourself. Know your worth.
Don’t ever let a man tell you that you are nothing.
Don’t ever let a boss make you feel like you are nothing.
Don’t ever treat yourself like you are not worthy of greatness.
When I say keep your standards high, I don’t mean treat people like shit. Always have integrity, always have foresight to your decisions. Be respectful because people will remember you for it. (They will also remember you being rude, so try to keep that at a minimum)
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Don’t be half-assed with your decisions. Be bold because your youth will allow you to do things future Sarah would dare not.
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Besides these points, you should live life! If you want to move somewhere else, you’ll find a way to make that happen. If you want to pursue your Masters, you can do it. Don’t be half-assed with your decisions. Be bold because your youth will allow you do things future Sarah would dare not.
Do it while you’re still young! (Yes, young is relative)
The future is yours for the taking,
xx
31-year-old Sarah
(photo credit: 21 – Bapi, 31- Pino)
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