Dear Teenager,

 As a young adult aspiring to blossom in this non-stop world; it’s easy for life to take a toll and slow you down. But there are many aspects that need to be considered before letting the small things take a mental hold over you. First, slow down! Take it all in. It’s easy to get frustrated when you’re letting the good things pass you by. Hi I am Mya Gutierrez, and I am a member of the Sacramento Youth Group. I am currently a first year college student at Sacramento State University, and let me tell you it’s not easy. But what I often forget is the hard work, dedication it took for me to get there. Sometimes as teenagers and young adults we are all so focused on the destination we never really sit back and enjoy the journey. So, take a step back sometimes and realize that the most enjoyable parts of life are the ones you usually fast forward just to get to the so-called “good part”, when in reality the good part is happening in real time. A second piece of advice I would give is to be courageous, it’s hard to be a rockstar in a world full of superstars, but taking a chance and a risk on yourself once in a while, is the first step to being the best version of yourself. That saying “pressure makes diamonds” is a true thing. By challenging yourself, and allowing yourself to be challenged, you are pressuring yourself to be the best, prosperous person you can be. My last piece of advice to you, is to value yourself. Life isn’t easy. But the one thing that makes life something wonderful is You. There are values deep within you that are just waiting to come out. It just takes one, and that one is you. So, with that being said, the world is your oyster, but you choose what you do with it.

• Mya – SYC Peer Specialist Intern