four my younger self

list 10 things you would tell your 16-year old self, if you could

wow, there really is so much i would tell my younger self. I wish I could just infuse my 16 year old self with the infinite knowledge and wisdom i now possess.

no, but really, this one is a pretty hard question. i am sure that the moment i finally choose 10 and post them, i will think of something better. but, here are my 10 (for now)

1. be the change you want to see in the world. stop spending so much time trying to push the river. be the change you want before you expect it from anyone else.
2. along those same lines, you cannot change anyone else. stop trying. no, for reals, just stop trying. you will be 100x happier if you just accept that.
3. finish high school. i know you are still a few years from that point, and you might not believe you need this advice, but YOU DO!! finish high school. 
4. you can go to college without paying out of pocket/getting a full ride scholarship. there is a magical thing called student loans and grants (your parents aren't quite poor enough to qualify for beautiful grants, but believe me that day will come) for some reason, your high school counselor will offer much "guidance" but will never mention this third option. (um, also...your guidance counselor will sobbing cry to you in a year. do not feel obligated to sit through it. say goodbye and leave her to her tears. it's not your problem)
5. forgive dad. no, really, do it. in a few short years, he will look death in the face. all this anger and drama will mean absolutely nothing. just let it all go and feel the freedom of forgiveness.
6. grandma is not immortal. she will die in less than 5 years. appreciate the time you have with her. enjoy the trips she will take from idaho to spend time with you at college. go to costco with her every.single.time she comes into town. listen to her advice, take your medicine, she is a genius. your children will not grow up playing games with her and doing crafts with her. you will need to learn those skills to pass on her legacy. pay more attention now. appreciate the newsletter. those glimpses into grandma's mind will one day be the closest you can come to talking to her.
7. you are absolutely right, you are clinically depressed. go to the doctor and get you some happy pills. it will save years of anguish. depression is a chemical imbalance, you will not be able to balance those chemicals in any other way. just trust me and take the pills.
8. don't argue with pene on the day you were supposed to graduate; it is not her fault, and you will just end up rear-ending another car. the driver will be on the way to her daughter (your classmate)'s graduation, which will only add insult to injury.
9. you are a bonafide melting pot. half of your genetic material is tongan, the other half is a mixture of scottish, welsh, english, german, french, navajo and paiute.  as you can see you are more brown than white. you do not need to prove that to anyone. you are the only one who gets to decide who/what you are. do not accept a race-based label from ANYONE.
10. pene is going to have a baby in a few years. it's gonna be a rough time for her. do everything you can to make it easier and make sure she knows you love her unconditionally.  also, that baby will get cancer. i wish i could tell you he lives to be an old man, but only one person knows that answer right now. however old he lives, appreciate the crap outta that kid. he will bring sunshine to your home and life.