Well, sort of.

Last Saturday I did the makeup for my little sister and her friend. I went ALL OUT. It’s so cool to see them growing up and becoming young women right before my eyes. High school is basically a crash course on beginning to sort out who you are and slowly finding out how this often unfair “life” thing works. I remember those days. When every little thing seemed like THE END OF THE WORLD. Oh, the drama. I would love to say I have fond memories of my homecoming and all the other senior activities, but the truth is, I didn’t go to anything except prom. Yup. I could not have possibly cared less about all those class activities. They seemed so stupid at the time. In reality, I was new to the school (to this country for Christ’s sake) and I always had few friends. Also, I was so over the whole high school thing, and the teachers, and detention and the freaking dress-code (ugh). I was so ready for college it hurt. I had my own version of the high-school experience and it was a tough one at times. Three different schools, two countries, leaving my first boyfriend behind along with my old life and my friends, I was not a happy camper.

So, to all the poor souls sailing through adolescence, here are some things to keep in mind:

• Adolescence is a disease, you will get out of it with some scars, but you will grow out of it nonetheless.
• Nothing is permanent. This is a good thing and a bad thing. Whatever you’re freaking out about right now will pass, and cherish the good moments because those too will become a memory soon.
• Understand that no other period of your life will be like this. High school is unique in the way your life is set up and the changes that are taking place right now. Master the hard things like the pressure to succeed academically and the responsibility of becoming an adult, and enjoy the last few years of truly being “a kid” and the freedom that comes with that.
• If you think life is complicated right now, wait until you graduate. Depending on where you are headed, life gets real as you embark on your higher education journey, or as you join the work-force full-time and have to make that money to pay the bills. Again, enjoy this time in high-school.
• Friendship tattoos are ALWAYS a bad idea. No matter how much you believe with all your heart that you will forever be close to your besties, the truth is, most of those relationships won’t survive as people’s lives take different directions and as you grow up. That’s always a tough reality to accept.
• RAGING HORMONES: A boy will only respect you as much as you respect yourself. Period. This is a cardinal rule when it comes to men and women. Act like a lady and you will be treated as such.
• Depending on the type of parents you have, if your mom and/or dad are offering you advice or wisdom, at the very least listen to what they have to say. Several years into your twenties you will realize how you parents are ALMOST always right –sigh–
• Start using a daytime facial moisturizer with SPF immediately! You can tell the difference between the girls who take care of their skin and the ones who don’t. Ageing signs start to creep up in your mid twenties so the best offense is a good defense.

The exact tutorial for my sister’s makeup is on my YouTube channel! Or click here.

Stay fabulous!