What would you change if you could “reset” your teenage experience?

OregonGuy

OregonGuy

Senior Member
Before I answer let me me the scene:

I first met Sue when I transferred into her college prep high school as a junior. She and I were “Geekie” and had never dated.

Sue made the first move toward our relationship by inviting me over to her home to watch Jack Paar at 11 PM. First thing I noticed when I arrived was that her parents were absent…we were alone. We sat next to each other on the couch and … watched TV!

Looking back on it I am sure she wanted me to kiss her (would have been my first and, I guess, also her first).

So if I could reset that experience I would have kissed Sue

… and then dated her

… and invited her to the prom.
 

I wouldn't change anything when it comes to relationships, career choices, etc. because any change back then would have altered everything that came after, and I've had a good life. What I *would* do differently, though, is listen to the stories and wisdom of my parents and grandparents better... would have given them all so much more time and attention.
 
My one and ONLY reset or do-over should have been sitting out of the next couple of games after the nasty concussion I got playing high school football. I should have listened to my girlfriend and her father and sat out. Thank goodness there’s now a concussion protocol in high school and college sports.

Fortunately I have no long lasting effects. Fortunately I have no lasting effects. Fortunately I have no lasting effects.
 
I wish I hadn't panicked when with the so right for me guy told me he was serious about us being together, (meaning more things would come up with our families and marriage plans, the stress of which would prevent me from controlling/'hiding' my shaking from all,) I stupidly blurted out, "I'm not in love with anyone!!" I had no way of knowing my response decided for him to join the Marines. In later years I came across him at a supermarket, I had my 2 small children with me. We talked a little and he told me sadly that his Korean wife miscarried their pregnancies. They eventually adopted 2 little Korean girls. I would have loved to bear children for him. I haven't seen him since.
 
CallMeKate said:
I wouldn't change anything when it comes to relationships, career choices, etc. because any change back then would have altered everything that came after, and I've had a good life. What I *would* do differently, though, is listen to the stories and wisdom of my parents and grandparents better... would have given them all so much more time and attention.
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Like you, I wouldn't change a thing.
Looking back, all things have worked out well in the end and my life has been full in every sense of the word.
 
gilead said:
Wish I'd never started smoking or drinking until later. Didn't handle drinking too well. Smoking & alcohol were just phases.

ADDED: Long time abstainer of both.
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Whether one started smoking at a young age usually depends on if they hung with other smokers. As for drinking, drinking too often becomes uncontrollable. Even when one does not qualify as an actual alcoholic, it is still damaging on so many levels.

Have you noticed in Hollywood movies how the characters in a movie drink morning, noon and night? It's seems as a available and non-threatening as Pepsi or Coke.

I don't think anyone should even start drinking liquor at any age. Too often it becomes a restful respite in an effort to even out the bad days - which in most lives can be very frequent. I won't get into the heath end of the subject.
 
911 said:
When I went to 9th grade, we had to choose our courses. Why I ever picked Latin as a course, I still don’t remember what I was thinking. I should have taken Spanish.
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The same with me, but I should have taken French instead of Latin.
 
OregonGuy said:
Before I answer let me me the scene:

I first met Sue when I transferred into her college prep high school as a junior. She and I were “Geekie” and had never dated.

Sue made the first move toward our relationship by inviting me over to her home to watch Jack Paar at 11 PM. First thing I noticed when I arrived was that her parents were absent…we were alone. We sat next to each other on the couch and … watched TV!

Looking back on it I am sure she wanted me to kiss her (would have been my first and, I guess, also her first).

So if I could reset that experience I would have kissed Sue

… and then dated her

… and invited her to the prom.
Click to expand...
I have a regret that's the flip side of this.

Freshman in college. I went on a very nice movie date with a really nice boy, at the end of the date I was all set for a kiss, when he asked if he could kiss me and it suddenly made me self-conscious so I sort of froze and shook my head. Second date, same thing, only this time he said he really hoped I'd say yes because all the guys in the dorm were waiting to hear about it. This made me even more self-conscious, I felt like they were all watching, so again I shook my head.

Needless to say, I didn't get asked for a third date and looking back he was one of the nicest boys ever and I think he liked me more than any other guy I can think of.
 
Elsie said:
I wish I hadn't panicked when with the so right for me guy told me he was serious about us being together, (meaning more things would come up with our families and marriage plans, the stress of which would prevent me from controlling/'hiding' my shaking from all,) I stupidly blurted out, "I'm not in love with anyone!!" I had no way of knowing my response decided for him to join the Marines. In later years I came across him at a supermarket, I had my 2 small children with me. We talked a little and he told me sadly that his Korean wife miscarried their pregnancies. They eventually adopted 2 little Korean girls. I would have loved to bear children for him. I haven't seen him since.
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Oh, Elsie! How sad.

You aren't the only one with wedding-phobia. I guess we were all supposed to drool over Bride magazine and dream of the big event where we would be the center of attention of a big crowd. I was so terrified of the very thought that we eloped and my mother never quite forgave me.
 
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