Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Things People Wish They Knew When They Were 19-Years-Old

Two young women and one young man in line at a cafeteria
woman in red and white jacket beside man in gray crew neck t-shirt
Photo by Alex Lujan on Unsplash

Reddit user poppcurn asked: 'What’s something you wish you knew when you were 19?'

19, the last of our teenage years.

At this age, many people begin their higher education and begin to seriously contemplate how they plan to spend their adult years.


Some people have already begun living their adult lives at this age, children and all.

Of course, no matter your circumstances at this very tender age, everyone will still learn a lot about themselves in the following years.

Sometimes learning a lesson fairly late in life that they wish they had learned much earlier.

Ideally, when they were 19.

Redditor poppcurn was curious to hear the things people wish they had known at the age of 19, leading them to ask:

"What’s something you wish you knew when you were 19?"

There's A Reason They Say Older And Wiser.

"I wish I listened to my grandma about the importance of stretching daily and wearing ear plugs when needed."- heyyoriky

Young Love... Not Always Forever...

"It's okay to leave that relationship."

"Life continues forward, and you'll have more time to get to know yourself."- Jump4lyfe

Time Is Easier To Waste Than We Think...

"Time slips away faster than you can imagine."

"I wish I'd known the real value of those early years."- Ace0851

Clock Tick Tock GIF by MOODMANGiphy

Just One Thing?

"Save your money."

"Try harder in school."

"Do not waste any more time on people that don’t have your best interest."

"It doesn’t always get better and not everything is always worth it so choose wisely."- Old-Masterpiece-8428

If At First You Don't Succeed...

"I wish I knew at 19 that failure isn’t end of the world.. and it’s just part of the process."

"I spent too much time stressing about getting everything right, whether it was school, work, or relationship."

"If I’d known back then that messing up is how you grow, I would’ve been a lot kinder to myself."- luxelotus_

Among Many Other Things

"Drugs are addictive."- ratraceinsurgent

Love Is Worth The Wait

"That getting married at 19 is an extremely bad idea."- weird-oh

Time And Effort Doesn't Go Unnoticed

"Dress better."

"It makes you feel better when you make an effort."

"And people really do notice."- locustpole77

Looking Good Feeling Myself GIF by CBSGiphy

True Friends Make Themselves Known

"Those people aren’t your friends."- ThrowItOut43

Only Please People Who Will Also Please You!

"People pleasing is a terrible habit when you’re a 19-year-old girl, and the people you’re trying to please are 19-year-old boys."- midwest13princess

Far Too Many People Need This Reminder

"That I’m enough."- Significant_King1494

When In Doubt, Keep Your Eyes Open...

"Not to trust people blindly."- turzo333

Sometimes We Set Our Own Traps

"Establish healthy routines now."

"Bad habits are harder to break as you get older."- ExtensionSpecial1138

We All Make Mistakes

"Do not marry him."- butterglitter

The Tiniest Seed Could Grow A Massive Tree

"Invest your f*cking money."- Electronic-Ice-2788

Invest Wall Street GIF by xponentialdesignGiphy

When we're 19, with a new decade of life just around the corner, we tend to forget that we truly do have our whole lives ahead of us.

Perhaps the most valuable lesson every 19-year-old should be taught.

More from Trending

Jennifer Welch; JD Vance
I've Had It/YouTube; Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images

Podcaster Rips J.D. Vance As A 'Failed Drag Queen' In Epic Takedown—And MAGA Is Furious

Former Bravo-lebrity and liberal podcaster Jennifer Welch went in on the Trump administration again, this time taking aim at MAGA Republican Vice President JD Vance.

During a recent episode of the popular podcast I’ve Had It, Welch, alongside Pod Save America host Tommy Vietor, skewered MAGA Republican President Donald Trump's current VP. Welch brought up the photos of Vance—allegedly taken while he was a student at Yale University—in a skirt, blond wig, with heavier than normal eyeliner.

Keep ReadingShow less
Heidi Klum
Lyvans Boolaky/Getty Images

Heidi Klum Just Outdid Herself With Her 'Very Ugly' Medusa Halloween Costume—And Wow

Halloween is the coolest time of year for someone to express themselves and to let their true identity shine.

Some take the Halloween festivities very seriously, like a man in Decatur riding around his neighborhood on a bicycle while wearing a Michael Myers Halloween mask, or even Project Runway host Heidi Klum one-upping her costume year after year.

Keep ReadingShow less
Actor Jesse Eisenberg pictured at a film event — the Now You See Me star recently revealed he’s donating a kidney to a stranger, calling it his most meaningful act yet.
JB Lacroix/FilmMagic via Getty Images

Jesse Eisenberg's Kidney Gift

American playwright, filmmaker, actor, and now literal lifesaver Jesse Eisenberg is taking his holiday giving to a whole new level. The Now You See Me star revealed on the TODAY show that he’s donating one of his kidneys to a total stranger.

The man isn’t conjuring a disappearing organ act. He’s actually doing it.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Donald Trump; Changpeng Zhao
60 Minutes; Horacio Villalobos/Corbis/Getty Images

Trump Ripped For Hypocrisy After Claiming He 'Doesn't Know' Who Crypto Founder He Just Pardoned Is

President Donald Trump was criticized after he claimed during a sit-down interview with 60 Minutes correspondent Norah O'Donnell that he doesn't know who Binance cryptocurrency exchange founder Changpeng Zhao is despite pardoning him less than two weeks ago.

In 2023, Zhao pleaded guilty to violating anti–money laundering laws after Binance allegedly failed to report suspicious transactions involving groups such as Hamas and al-Qaida. He later apologized, paid a $50 million fine, and served nearly four months in prison before being pardoned by Trump.

Keep ReadingShow less
Split screen of a woman with a stern reaction and a man with a shocked expression.
@vanessa_p_44/TikTok

Guy Has Priceless Reaction To Learning His Mom Named Him After 'South Park' Character—And We're Obsessed

When it comes time for parents to name their soon-to-be-born child, they often cast a wide net looking for inspiration.

Many will name their child after a beloved friend or family member, while others might choose a name from a classic film, novel, or television series.

Keep ReadingShow less