Remember when you were 13 and everything seemed like the biggest deal ever and “OMG you are going to die because life is just so bad”? Oh, and you were wearing giant bell bottom jeans and a shirt with a condom pocket on the sleeve? Yeah, those were the days.

Don’t you wish you could hop into a DeLorean and go back and give that girl some (fashion) advice? Maybe a little nugget of wisdom to make those angsty teenage years just a little less angsty? Unfortch, we can’t go back there (or maybe it’s a good thing – I don’t like looking at pictures of myself with that perm, so interacting with it in person would be devastating), but if you could, what would you say?

This week I asked the CollegeCandy team to share their life lessons with their younger selves.
What wisdom would you impart?

Sarabeth – University of Texas: Save yourself a lot of trouble and stop hanging out with all the guys and try putting on some lip gloss before you get to high school. Maybe then you will get an actual date to winter formals, prom, etc., instead of gay men. Kthxbye.

Vivian – Rutgers University: Yeah, you know those boobs mommy promised would come in eventually? You can stop waiting – they aren’t coming.

K – GW: Dear awkward 13 (cough 16) year-old-self, piling on the Clinique and trying to fit in is hopeless and unsatisfying. Just be yourself and happiness will find you.

Maddie – Tufts: Never shave in between your eyebrows (I know, embarrassing…). Have someone show you how to use a tweezer.

Kathryn – University of Wisconsin-Madison: It’s OK to not know what you want to do with your life. Hell, I’m a college graduate and I still have no clue!

Brithny- Duke: 2 AM is the worst time to make mistakes. And, BTW, overalls with a rainbow turtleneck is not a good look for anyone. ANYONE.

Kari- Florida State: Don’t ever text him more than twice if he doesn’t text you back! Seriously. Put down the phone…

Melanie Danko: Dear Melanie (yenior year of high school) on St. Patty’s Day,
Don’t drink the Bacardi 151. Just. Don’t.
Love,
Future Melanie

Teresa – UC San Diego:  MEN ARE JERKS. Be careful with your heart.  Also, never wear velour stirrup pants again.

Cristina – Michigan State University: “F**k Bitches, Get money” No seriously, be careful what girls you trust, and save your money.

Lauren H – The New School: He is not as amazing as you think he is; that’s why he has the confederate flag tattooed on his stomach.

Lena Chen – Harvard: All-pink business ensembles are an internship NO!

Kiki – University of Missouri: Smile more. Do not pour your teenage-heart out via cryptic Xanga posts ridden with Fall Out Boy lyrics. And, for the love of 80′s rock stars everywhere, lay off the Wet ‘n Wild eyeliner.

Carly – Grinnell: CHILL OUT! Nothing that you think is the end of the world actually is.

Elizabeth-University of Missouri: Hair grows, braces eventually come off and baby fat does disappear. Oh, and overalls are always a bad decision. Ditto with scrunchies.

Vanessa – Sheridan College: They’re not lying, high school really will fly by.

So far this summer, I’ve been having the constant desire to re-live childhood summer times, a.k.a hopping in my DeLorean and gunning it to 1999.  The days when I was 9 years old and the world was mine.  The days when the only thing I had to worry about trying not to hurt myself when I was Skippin’ It outside all day.  The days when I was bumpin’ “If You Steal My Sunshine” and getting a perfect tan from swimming all day at camp. Those last moments of childhood where you could run around naked without feeling an ounce of self-consciousnes (knowing next summer you might be gettin’ some new curves).

10 years later, there are so many questions.  What will my major be?  Do I have enough hours at work?  Do I need to take summer classes? Where da party at? When’s the next sunny day for tanning? Does he want a relationship or a hook-up? Did I text too much this month? Should I get that new iPod?  It obviously doesn’t get easier.

Preeeeeetttyyy sure I wasn’t asking myself those questions when I was a kid.  So I say, what the hell? Let’s worry less and bring more pre-pubescent nostalgia back into our summer lives with some fun old-school pastimes:

If you’re the modern day hustler always on that cash flow – Try a lemonade stand.  Except now that you don’t have the intelligence of a pre-tweener who simply adds sugar, lemons and water, add some of you’re own twist and make it worth buying for a little more money. Hell, even get you’re friends to join you, hang some decorations and post up where your desired demographics like to chill. (Skatepark? Soccer Field? Those are some thirsty boys…) Hey, you gotta do what you gotta do to get that paper, capish?

If you need to cool off after a strenuous day of sunbathing with friends – Might I suggest saying “Screw the pool, whip out the slip ‘n slide”?>  Just be clear for any rocks or sharp objects in the grass so, as Dane Cook says, it doesn’t become a game of “Slip and Bleed from the anus.”  If you don’t have a slip ‘n slide, please tell me you at least have some sort of sprinklers?  A hose and a thumb, perhaps?

If your wildest fantasies involve being creative and drawing – Listen up!
Step 1 – Get yourself to a dollar store and buy some chalk.  The more colors, the better.
Step 2 – Get yourself to a parking lot.
Step 3 – Fill it up with the inner-workings of your mind.
The world is your canvas, my friend.

If being an adventurer makes you happy in the pants – Why don’t you try building a treehouse?  A mini escape for when you just don’t want to be found for a little while (yet don’t feel like wasting precious gas going for a joyride).  A personal paradise where you can spend days listening to your favorite childhood music outside, and nights inviting a “certain someone” over and “hanging out under the stars.” Preferably naked. (Ok, so that last part isn’t very kid-like, but it’s still very, very fun.)

Even if you’re not totally free this summer, it doesn’t take much to kick it old school style. Just let loose and enjoy!