So I stumbled upon posts from Srikar and Chutney Case on the 13 things you wish your 13 year old self had known. It got me thinking of the many instances when I really wish I’d known something earlier, only to learn it, at what I felt was, a bit late. So here goes my list.
- Reading
Thankfully, I started reading from when I was young. I started with Enid Blyton and graduated to reading fiction, until recently my uncle told me that I should start reading non-fiction. In my growing years, I guess I focused on exploring new worlds and characters that I probably did not focus on reading about the existing world with its amazing characters. I wish I’d started reading a wide genre from then.
- Hobby
In the mad rush between school and assignments, I wish I had more time to spend on extra-curricular activities or be passionately involved with some hobby (apart from reading books, of course!). I did not know that I would get time to do something apart from studies (college) and work. I know it’s never too late to start learning, but if I had developed an interest in some hobby, I wouldn’t be wasting time on Social Media and writing horrible blog posts in the name of rants.
3.Explored options before diving into Engineering
It was entirely my decision to pursue engineering (those days, it was just about doing something with the computers for me) and I wasn’t forced to take it up, but I wish I got to know and explore more options (apart from Doctors and Charted Accountants) before narrowing down my career options. It takes so much more than just efforts to change your career path when you find life gets a bit too boring (P.S With a bit of luck I did change paths, but I wish I had more options!)
4.Tamil.
I know six languages. English, Tamil, Hindi, Sanskrit, French and Malayalam in that order. Though I speak and read and even decently write Tamil, I wish I got to learn it better just to appreciate the amazing literary works in Tamil. I’m not saying I should have opted for Tamil as my second language. That would have been suicide for me (10x times tougher). And considering that anything loses interest when it is a part of your academic syllabus, I just wish I had learnt it some other way, to a greater extent that what I now know.
5.Spend more time with Grandparents
Nothing is too much at all. When I was young, I lived with my paternal grandparents and every weekend, my sister and I used to stay at the maternal grandparents’ place. I’m happy I at least got time to spend with them before we had to relocate to another city. But I wish I had more time with them. I grew up listening to their stories and the times of their days. Nobody can make you feel good about yourself like your Grandparents. They’re perhaps the only souls who would still believe that we are the innocent and charming ones we were eons back!
6.Participated in more Competitions
I participated in those competitions that were mandatory and occasionally I used to participate in Talent Search competitions, thanks to my parents. But I wish I got to participate in many more competitions, and learn practically the art of losing and winning without being overly depressed or ecstatic and treat both with the same attitude. It would have really helped me!
7.Girlfriends
That is the age when the bonds of friendships that last forever are made. We might have a lot of friends, guys and girls alike, but there is nothing better than having a girlfriend who has known you all your life and can be your best 3 am friend. I am hardly in touch with my once-close friends and manage to keep in touch with my friends from college, but I wish I had more friends who I’ve known for a long time. Being in 3 different schools did not help that either.
8.Fight less with The Sister
If only I’d known that my sister would have to move on to a new home (her home) and that I would have to share all the attention that she used to give me with someone else, I swear I wouldn’t have fought with her(read as tried to irritate her) all the time(Really!). Sometimes I miss her more than anything, but surprisingly having fought with your sister a lot, does make for quite some wonderful memories than being the good-sisters who don’t fight (do they actually exist?)
9.Writing
I’m glad I took Dad’s laptop and started writing 7 years back, but considering that I have so many things to say and so little time in my routine, I wish I’d started early. When I went through my old school certificates, I was surprised, or rather astonished to find that I had scored well in a competition. A writing competition – Creative writing. Only then it dawned on me that I was so focused on speaking that I did not notice I could write pretty decently too.
10.History and Geography are Interesting!
Trust me! I’m reading so many books on History because suddenly it seems so interesting. History at school was pretty decent but not very interesting, especially if you had to write an essay about why two egoistic people allowed their men to fight for silly reasons. And as for Geography, I still have my old school atlas which I use for looking up places on the globe. Thanks to Google, I get to read more of what I’m interested in, in a particular place than reading what crops would grow better there.
11.Travelling
My parents took me to most of the places in India (Except North East) when I was young and I wish they had waited for me to grow up a little, so that I could remember a few of them. I wish I had traveled less then and more now.
12.Goodbyes are difficult
Clichéd as it might sound, when we were young (Oh my God, I can’t believe I’ve started saying this. Do I speak like a Grandma now? Ok, don’t answer that!) Good byes used to mean ‘until we meet next week/month/year or at a family event’, but now when I say good bye I’m not even sure if I would get to meet them in my lifetime. I wish I’d known this fact earlier, so that I could’ve been mentally prepared
13.About Life
I believed in fairy tales then. I still believe that it would happen sometime.
Now I know Life is difficult and sometimes it’s not fair. Sometimes you’re ignored and ridiculed and sometimes you are appreciated and praised. But I got to know this only now. I grew up thinking I would have a perfect life (theme-based colour coordinated) lifestyle that it did take some time to adapt to what the real world felt like. I have no idea how the transition happened and I’m happy it went on well, but I wish someone had warned me about it and told me how life would be great if you tried to focus on each lesson that life was trying to teach you at every point.
But, I’m not too sure about that either. Some lessons are learnt best when you are the teacher and you are the student as well. So I guess I should actually be happy no one warned me about Life and I got to learn it all by myself!
So, have you come up with your list? Feel free to tag yourselves and share what features prominently in your list.
As The Mind Wanders 
44 responses to “13 Things I Wish I Knew When I Was 13!”
The childish innocent thoughts
The quirky lines
A nice read
An awesome post
🙂
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Ashwini, you sound so childlike at times and immensely mature at others. I am impressed that you are quite mature for your age, girl. Yes, girl friends are important. Especially the ones you have during school and college. Though you meet and make many friends later, it is different I say. Sisters are special. Trust me. We used to fight a lot. But now, there won't pass a day without talking to each other and by god's grace, both of us live in the same country. You are so right about goodbyes….enjoyed reading this post…you should keep writing…why taking so many breaks?
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Wow,you are a linguist too besides many other talents !!!
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I think you have done more than your share at 13, Ashwini:) I wish I could have done haf as better!Teach me a few languages as I know too less…..
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Great post. Liked reading it.
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Thoughtful post and 13 things at age 13 is alright, but as we age the lists seems to grow and so many thoughts of “what if” keeps adding on…at least for me .
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Cute list. You know Chutney Case was the reason I started blogging. I wanted to be like her. I am glad to know that she is back writing regularly.
I got a know a little or a lot more of you through this one 😀
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It was an interesting piece. Some insights.
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Awesome list. Although, the history back at School was scary (or it was that way only at mine? 😉 )
Thanks for sharing. (I still love computers but would have loved to explore more options. Wondering if I would have ended up being somewhere else 🙂 )
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I wish there was a better history curriculum in schools, and better history books! I too wish I had developed some hobby early on, instead of focusing on academics so much. But better late than never.
Destination Infinity
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I dont think I new anything at all when I was 13:)….yes I also wish that I had made more friends for a life time..
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I pretty much agree with most of them…
But as they say, better late than never… Although it sounds too cliched!
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I can relate to most of them.
Well told.
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Thanks 🙂
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Yes Latha, I've realized that of late I always want to get back in touch with my friends from college, because when there is some competition involved in work friends, you never know when they stop seeing you as a friend. And I'm really glad that despite the distance me and my sis stay connected 🙂
I really have no answer to that question Latha, too many things coming up, so I decided I would write at least twice a month. But your question got me thinking and I'm going to make it a point to be regular.
Thanks for making me think with that question 🙂
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Haha, no entirely, but yea 🙂
Thank you KP sir 🙂
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I'm sure you would have done even better Sir. Thank you 🙂
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Thanks SG 🙂
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True. I guess by the time I turn 30, I would wish I'd known many more things! Thanks 🙂
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Hey, thank you 🙂
Looking forward to your post, so that I can get to know more about you pretty lady 😉
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Thank you!
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Thank you 🙂
Yes at that time is was a nightmare – Years of Wars and Names of Lords. Phew! But not anymore.
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Very true Rajesh. Sometimes I feel I learnt a lot of unnecessary stuff where I should have learnt more useful information.
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I'm really happy more people are talking about friends for life time. I thought I was the only odd one 😉
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It does, but that's the truth right? 🙂
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Thank you Indrani. Glad you were able to relate to them 🙂
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Even I ended up not having any hobby, other than reading. Wish our history books were more interesting. Even I like history a lot now that I am not in school. Same goes for competitions – did not participate in most of them. Wish I had done! Good list Ashwini.
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Very interesting, Ash.
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I can relate to your thoughts… 🙂 today's children of 13 know much more things than us…
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Lovely words, Ash!
Yes, I share your views 🙂 How we wish!
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Thanks Ash!
Again, the more we introspect, the more we have in common 😉
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Thanks Rachna 🙂
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Tell me about it. They're super fast and super talented and God knows what they'll become when they grow up.
Glad you were able to relate to it 🙂
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Thank you Anita 🙂
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That a very thoughtful list. All that and you have still turned so better than the average us..:) 😀
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THanks Monica 🙂
Oh no, you wait till I come up with a post of how my negatives balance my positive aspects 😛
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Great list – but how old are you now? Deciding on a career at only 13 sounds far too early…
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Thanks! 🙂 Almost more than a decade has passed since I turned 13 😉 and yes, I agree, I only wish I had explored more options.
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A good reflective post. With you on Hobby, Competitions, Girlfriends and Traveling! Wish I had done more of these too when I was young.
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Thank you Shilpa 🙂 Glad you could relate to it 🙂
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I love your list, Ashwini! I identify with so many of them!!
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Interesting list 🙂 I've never thought about it but your post makes me think…..I think I've read a decent amount in my teen-years but I wish I could have been more inspired to read non-fiction – somehow that is a genre that is yet to catch my interest……Rest of the things….It's funny but I think I ended up doing all those things I wanted 🙂 I just wish I knew it when I was 13 that I have it in me to make my dreams come true – it would have reduced the amount of doubt with which I plagued myself!!
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Thank you Roshni 🙂 I think at some level, we might yearn for something similar 🙂
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Spot on Divya. It's these qualities like passion and confidence which continue to mould and guide us in the growing years. Good that you got to do most of the things you wanted 🙂
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