h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

We've got a member of the House of Lords coming into school next week and the lads have been asked to supply questions they want to ask in advance.

One of the lads has submitted "What bit of advice would you give to your 16-year old self?" which I quite like and thought would be good for here.

So, if you could jump into a time machine and have a chat with your teenaged self, what would you say? What advice would you give?

Invest in Microsoft.

I don't think I'd have anything to offer my 16-year old self, because he already had the same opinions as me, and I've never really done anything in life I regretted which I'd want to change.

I suppose a reassurance that everything would work out eventually would be welcome.

My 16-year-old self might be able to offer me some advice on some maths problems I'm working on now, though, because he was much better than me at mathematics.

Shower more often. It'll help when you meet that lass in college.

'Some women quite like you.'

Oh another one: "Go for bass rather than guitar and for the love of Bob spent at least an hour a day on the thing."

difficult one
it would probably be: stick to your guns with your parents and change schools for A-levels

failing that
stick to your guns with the school and your A-level choice (under no circumstances allow them to persuade you to switch French for Maths)

and...
when you are in your 30s your spots will be gone and you won't be fat with greasy hair. But many of these around you will lose their looks in their early 20s - and by the time you are in your 40s you won't care anyway.

and...
yes, people are looking at your chest. Baggy t-shirts and jumpers make no difference. They are looking anyway - embrace all those nice strappy tops and t-shirts you always want to wear but don't dare...

>>many of these around you will lose their looks in their early 20s - and by the time you are in your 40s you won't care anyway.

You may not care, Sho, but other people do... you're lovely!

It's not school or nothing. Look at colleges! Especially that one not far from you that deals in argicultural and animals and stuff! Stay in education, pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeease.

Plus:

You can't make other people do what you want, so stop trying.

Should probably say mine, instead of asking and running off.

It'd be something along the lines of "chill out, you'll figure it out and it'll be great. Relax and you'll have more fun"

Oh and "don't dump X - he turns out he becomes rich and moderately famous."

I like the idea of 'invest in Micro$oft', though it didn't exist when I was 16

"Your world is actually quite small for you now, be patient and grow into the big one that is out there, a step at a time"

thanks, Gno.

I'd also say to my 16 year old self: learn vocab. Then learn more vocab. And again and again and again...

Along with: there is such a thing as too much black eyeliner and clothes come in other colours. Indeed: clothes come in colours.

Also: listen to your Bro. He is right about Iron Maiden, you are missing out.

Been thinking about this and couldn't really come up with anything, so I asked Mrs swl and got the instant reply - "Stay away from men"

>>Stay in education, pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeease.<<
Yes. Indeed yes. It would have got less uncomfortable, more interesting.

All those conversations, discussions, arguments about religion clarified things greatly so thank you - but perhaps you should try a little harder to change the subject, a little more often.
Though well done for keeping your cool (mostly).

Don't take maths a level.

Stop writing quotes in biro on your jeans.

Get a hair cut.

"Stop writing quotes in biro on your jeans."

I used to do that in felt tip on an old army jacket... I thought I was being so cool and intellectual-yet-edgy.

"Yes. Indeed yes. It would have got less uncomfortable, more interesting" I'm hooked on it now - although only to a certain level. Haven't got the self discipline to stick when it gets hard work as I'm studying at home.

Ah Mina.
Some years later I told the daughter of a friend (with a very similar attitude to school that I had had) "It may seem a long time to go, but concentrate, it'll pass quicker. You have to be there, so make the most of it, learn what you can - it'll all come in useful later".
She did.

Hmmm. Don´t listen so much to your parents, learn a trade.