WHEN SINÉAD BURKE asks you to do something, you do it.
So when the Irish activist, whose recent TED Talk on accessibility and design for little people was met with considerable acclaim, asked her Twitter followers to reflect on their 18-year-old selves, they did it.
And when she requested they share the piece of advice they might offer their younger selves if they could, Twitter started getting all introspective.
We know; the words of wisdom are likely endless if you were as clueless and bull-headed as we were in our late teens, but to be fair, Twitter kept it short, sharp and succinct.
If you could, what would you say to your 18 year old self?
— Sinéad Burke (@TheSineadBurke) May 20, 2018
Sinéad explained that she will be returning to her old school this week, and was in need of a little inspiration.
Going back to my old school tomorrow to give the first ever keynote speech at the 6th year graduation. Currently surrounded by scraps of paper while my stomach is in knots.
So, Twitter got stuck in and the results are pretty uplifting.
From sage fashion advice to heartfelt words of wisdom, we ain’t never done learnin’.
Here are just some of our favourites.
1. Don’t ignore the Google gods.
Buy shares in a company called Google as soon as it appears (keep a look out for them in about 10 years, around your 28th birthday).
— Martyn Farrows (@symphonysid) May 20, 2018
2. Ask all the questions.
You will meet people who are very different to you - either culturally, religiously, physically or mentally. Talk to them and learn. Be curious. Ask questions - don’t ignore things you do not understand. Because as a young person, you can ask those questions.
— Fionnuala Kilbane (@53TENComms) May 20, 2018
3. Start adding to your ‘I’ll never own a home’ fund now.
1. Wear a crop top every day while your belly is still flat
— Aisling Keenan (@aislingmkeenan) May 21, 2018
2. Start saving for a mortgage (you’ll never get one but it’ll be nice to have some savings to spend when you get sad about not being a homeowner)
3. You’re actually not shy at all, people just tell you you are ⭐️ https://t.co/xgB0MF3tCm
4. Chill when it comes to the LC.
The leaving cert is very good at measuring how well a square peg fits in a square hole. For those who are square pegs this is great but just as not all pegs are square, in life not all holes are either. There is a place for everyone, even if it might take some time to find it.
— Lu (@urban_foxes) May 20, 2018
5. Keep those mortifying diaries.
Moisturize every single night, get the government braces, and don't start fucking smoking. Don't shred your diaries like a melodramatic asshole, you'll miss them later. Also, you're skinny, wear the red jeans. Never, ever, volunteer to be a hair model.
— sarah griff (@griffski) May 20, 2018
6. Don’t be THAT drinker.
Ignore the negativity.
— Niamh4Yes (@niamhzie) May 20, 2018
People only post their nicer experiences on social media, not the bad or dull moments. Log off once in a while.
Be nicer to your mam, you're slowly morphing into her.
Alternate pints and 7ups. Nobody likes a puker.
Wear suncream, you one get one skin.
7. You can over-pluck, but you can’t over-floss.
Don’t over-pluck your eye brows. Do go to the dentist!
— Barbara Galvin (@GalvinBa) May 20, 2018
8. Your mam won’t be around forever.
Spend more time with your Mam. You're not too cool for sun cream. Travel,travel,travel. Don't pressure yourself to have a career,sometimes you just work to pay for the things you ACTUALLY want to do. DO the things you actually want to do. Don't be afraid to love deeply. Be brave.
— Sarah VOTE YES Griffin (@sarahgriffalo) May 20, 2018
9. You deserve more than a fat emo.
Don’t drop out of college, go easy on the drugs and break up with that fat emo.
— Jessica Bressan (@messibressan) May 20, 2018
10. It’s all a work in progress.
Stop giving a shit what everyone else thinks about. Be you...
— Mark (@mduf07) May 21, 2018
Still working on that concept
