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There is a popular psychological exercise called "Writing to yourself at an earlier age". This actually helps a person to realize what mistakes they made in the past, accept them and, if possible, become more calm and balanced in the present - after all, in fact, these mistakes cannot actually be changed.

Well, we all make mistakes - especially in our teenage years, when life energy literally overflows, our own life experience is still very small, and someone else's advice seems so insignificant and, let's be honest, so stupid. Some of these mistakes just remain in the past, causing only a feeling of shame over the years. Some of them, on the contrary, affect our entire subsequent life.

A popular thread recently appeared in the AskReddit community with over 12.7K upvotes and nearly 8K comments. The topic starter suggested that redditors perform the same exercise, only in a simpler form, by just answering the question "What was your biggest teenage mistake?"

Bored Panda has collected for you the most popular answers from this thread, where there are both sad revelations and funny moments that are shameful to remember, but at least fun. And perhaps the most correct comment in this collection is from a teenager who thanks people for listing the mistakes that they will try to avoid in their life. We hope they succeed...

Anyway, now scroll to the very end, like your favorite submissions and, of course, share your own stories - after all, we know that nobody is perfect!

More info: Reddit

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#1

Folks Online Recall Their Biggest Teenage Fails, So Here Are 30 Of The Best Stories Not taking better care of my teeth

LedTasso69 , Mike Burns Report

Final score:
220points
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#2

Folks Online Recall Their Biggest Teenage Fails, So Here Are 30 Of The Best Stories Marrying my 18-year-old self to a 40-year-old who'd been grooming me for three years, just to spite my mother.

0/10, would not recommend.

Late_Again68 , Wanai Piyakulchaidej Report

Final score:
213points
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Christina Born
Christina Born
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same. Only my ex was 50 and I was 18. We'd only known each other a year. Did get 2 really awesome kids out of that otherwise 18yr disaster, though!

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#3

Folks Online Recall Their Biggest Teenage Fails, So Here Are 30 Of The Best Stories Looking back at the way I treated this one girl. I was cruel and thoughtless. I’m 50 now and it still hurts me.

Trek1973 , Son of Groucho Report

Final score:
210points
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Deborah Harris
Deborah Harris
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Try to look her up and apologise, it might help both of you to heal

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#4

Folks Online Recall Their Biggest Teenage Fails, So Here Are 30 Of The Best Stories I am in my teenage years rn and i realised i can learn from your mistakes, thanks redditors

baumstammreiniger , jackjohnson37 Report

Final score:
209points
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MoMcB
MoMcB
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Mistakes are exactly that. Don't sweat it, we all have made them and will do more. Move on.

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#5

Folks Online Recall Their Biggest Teenage Fails, So Here Are 30 Of The Best Stories Started smoking.

fislakka , frkstyle Report

Final score:
203points
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#6

Folks Online Recall Their Biggest Teenage Fails, So Here Are 30 Of The Best Stories Worried too much about trying to "fit in" and being concerned about what others were thinking.

Back2Bach , Romain Guy Report

Final score:
200points
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Elspeth Marple
Elspeth Marple
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a teenager I did the same thing and didn't enjoy my teens years like I should have. I keep telling my siblings (who are now teenagers) to lighten up and have fun, no one cares that much. They aren't listening.......

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#7

Folks Online Recall Their Biggest Teenage Fails, So Here Are 30 Of The Best Stories Coasting through school on being bright and never learning to study. University was a shock and just about managed my 2:2

stubbleandsqueak , Kara Report

Final score:
194points
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over it already
over it already
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This! Study habits are hard to learn later on and are very necessary for higher education and job success.

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#8

Folks Online Recall Their Biggest Teenage Fails, So Here Are 30 Of The Best Stories I did not rebel. My parents incessantly accused me of rebelling and general debauchery despite being in a huge club sport on scholarship, being involved in school councils, having extra curriculars like orchestra, and art (which I always won awards for), having a 3.6 GPA, being the first in my family on track to go to a huge university, etc etc etc.

I spent my high school life hopping in between crying, self-loathing, and suicidal ideation when I could have been having fun and enjoying my childhood. I spent too much time wondering why my parents didn’t love me instead of doing something about it and refusing to respect them.

anon , Dark Dwarf Report

Final score:
177points
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Katie Everswick
Katie Everswick
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i was in the exact same situation in high school, and i finally chose to do some of the things they were constantly accusing me of. might as well have fun if they're not going to believe you anyway. but... i do not recommend this lol

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#9

Folks Online Recall Their Biggest Teenage Fails, So Here Are 30 Of The Best Stories I took teenage stereotypes too seriously. Like I thought the kind of dynamics you saw in teen moves were real- jocks were all dumb a*sholes, nerdy kids were smart virgins, etc. It took me an embarrassing amount of time to realize that people are people and that I was severely limiting myself by assigning myself a "role."

If-By-Whisky , Dushan Hanuska Report

Final score:
163points
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#10

Folks Online Recall Their Biggest Teenage Fails, So Here Are 30 Of The Best Stories Not getting the hint that my friend, the beautiful Patricia, wanted to be WAY more than friends.

dwane1972 , Sergio Vassio Photography Report

Final score:
152points
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Lea Panthera
Lea Panthera
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There's a part of me that is now shipping dwane1972 x Patricia

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#11

Folks Online Recall Their Biggest Teenage Fails, So Here Are 30 Of The Best Stories Not pursuing my passion when i have the age,health and time with me

elegantloba , Ray B's world Report

Final score:
136points
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Chrissyfox
Chrissyfox
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Definitely. So many regrets. I didn't train as a midwife because of some BOY and the relationship never even got off the ground.

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#12

Folks Online Recall Their Biggest Teenage Fails, So Here Are 30 Of The Best Stories Not realising that my parents weren’t doing the best job raising me/preparing me for adulthood and realising I should maybe take matters into my own hands.

peanutismint , Lorna Mitchell Report

Final score:
134points
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MTNester
MTNester
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm just now coming into my own at 55. Years of therapy helped me realize l did raise myself. My parents are incompetent and abusive. But as a child l could not have known all this...my only goal was survival. I did it! Sounds like you did too.

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#13

Folks Online Recall Their Biggest Teenage Fails, So Here Are 30 Of The Best Stories High school football. My doctor advised me against it but I was 14 and knew everything. Putting my body through four years of abuse was not worth what I got out of it.

Today I’m 33 and wake up with a stiff neck every day, my right shoulder has a ton of scar tissue, my elbow has a bone chip, my jaw clicks/pops if I open it too wide, and both of my knees ache when it gets too cold.

Also our team sucked.

weinerwayne , Jeff Miller Report

Final score:
126points
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the quickening
the quickening
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What kind of backwards awful school allows kids to injure themselves this badly in school sports???

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#14

Folks Online Recall Their Biggest Teenage Fails, So Here Are 30 Of The Best Stories Not seeing women the same as men.

Turns out, we're all people.

panteragstk , Steve Baker Report

Final score:
123points
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#15

Folks Online Recall Their Biggest Teenage Fails, So Here Are 30 Of The Best Stories Forcing myself to fall in love with a girl. I didn't love her, I was in love with the idea of a girlfriend. Now to be fair, she made the same mistake. She didn't love me. It was a bad relationship.

mr-blindsight , Kanesue Report

Final score:
120points
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TheReader19
TheReader19
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Most people are in love with the idea of being in love. We learn and grow, there's no shame in this.

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#16

Folks Online Recall Their Biggest Teenage Fails, So Here Are 30 Of The Best Stories Not being more sociable. I’m 25 now and I have no f*****g idea how to make friends

cosimascherry , Cristian Ungureanu Report

Final score:
113points
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Alison Hell
Alison Hell
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a suggestion, you could go on the internet and look up social clubs, meetups, and so on in your area. Maybe there's a program (art, archery, whatevs) that interests you that you could get involved in..its a step to meeting new people which would help you to become more social at your own pace.

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#17

Folks Online Recall Their Biggest Teenage Fails, So Here Are 30 Of The Best Stories I was a rather negative person as a teenager, but tried to play it off as sarcasm instead. I somehow had grown into this weird bubble where I made fun of almost every little thing, but didn't really realize that I was also hurting my friends by doing that.

I did lots of growing up after high school, and I'm a bit sad about not keeping in touch with my old friends. They might have liked me more today than they did back then.

-manabreak , Argyleist Report

Final score:
109points
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Freddie Torsten
Freddie Torsten
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well it's also annoying when people don't understand sarcasm at all and just become angry with you

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#18

Folks Online Recall Their Biggest Teenage Fails, So Here Are 30 Of The Best Stories Not losing kilos from the beginning, i know it may be sound stupid but being an overweight teenager made me become an outcast everywhere, kids and adults can be cruel and even self esteem was bad. I only lost those kilos near the end wish i did it much sooner

FamiliarLettuce3858 , Magnus D Report

Final score:
109points
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#19

Folks Online Recall Their Biggest Teenage Fails, So Here Are 30 Of The Best Stories Started having sex too young which lead to mistakes and pregnancies too young, and losing a baby as a child was too much. I’m still not sure I’ve recovered.

Jensi_is_me , Janine Report

Final score:
105points
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Curly potato
Curly potato
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Guys, whoever sees this, look at the comments below this one, find the replies made by Gay Bear and DOWNVOTE THE HELL OUTTA THEM

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#20

Folks Online Recall Their Biggest Teenage Fails, So Here Are 30 Of The Best Stories My biggest teenage mistake was not being kind to myself. My teenage years were some of the hardest in my life( hopefully).

Trauma after trauma, disappointment after disappointment. And i always blamed myself for them all.

It wasn't until recently i could start looking back and realized that it really wasn't my fault. I did a lot more than most would have in my situation. And that even though i had terrible teenage years, its not a reflection on who i am, but more a reflection on what i was going through.

It makes comming to terms with losing out on that part of your life much easier. And i wish i had this mindset much earlier.

thomasrat1 , Yaniv Yaakubovich Report

Final score:
99points
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Blurryface
Blurryface
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’m in the middle of this. I have severe depression and social anxiety. Childhood trauma. Only a few close friends, and I have screwed up all of my relationships so far. Too introverted to make more friends, terrified of letting anyone be close to me again. I gave my heart to a manipulative guy. I’m literally only halfway through my teens, and it’s been awful. Not sure how to continue. Therapy is helping, but things are just getting worse. I realize that life is not supposed to be happy all the time, but this year has sucked. And last year. And the year before. The other day, I finally told someone the truth when they asked how I was doing. Then they told me that these should be the best years of my life. I don’t know. It just seems pointless. I’m taking meds, finding hobbies, being interactive (to a point). I’m trying it all. I’m trying to make it better. It’s not working. And there seems to be no end. Impossible. Tomorrow I’m hosting a game night. I have to put on a game face…

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#21

Folks Online Recall Their Biggest Teenage Fails, So Here Are 30 Of The Best Stories When I had the opportunity, I did not go to study, but decided to go to work right away

NaughtyAnastasia007 , Janet Lindenmuth Report

Final score:
93points
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bleurchhh53
bleurchhh53
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't want to be inconsiderate to the lack of context here (did you know what your dream job was from age 7 or hadn't a clue what to do at 16/18?) but...honestly...regret nothing. I left school at 17. Worked my way through a career I hated. Made a decent amount of money, not rich but comfortable. Then my mother died when I was in my 40's. Absolutely devastated. Sold up. Travelled for a while. Spent most of my savings. Then COVID hit. I'm now in my 50's, I work as a postman and I "get by" but love the job. I regret none of it. If it's the money you miss (or feel you missed), that's not the issue. Honestly, trust me... Live your life as best you can and enjoy it as much as possible (I just hope you are being afforded at least a *decent* living wage at what you are doing now...if you're struggling, that's a different issue and I would not wish this on anyone at all. Everyone, bar none, deserves a decent standard of living. Shouldn't even have to say it...)

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#22

Folks Online Recall Their Biggest Teenage Fails, So Here Are 30 Of The Best Stories Not noticing the signs when a girl was clearly into me

VocationFumes , Pussreboots Report

Final score:
91points
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#23

Folks Online Recall Their Biggest Teenage Fails, So Here Are 30 Of The Best Stories I'm actually more worried about the mistakes I didn't make. Making mistakes means you're experiencing life. I was way too far in my shell to have fun.

Andyle611 , 攝影家9號 - Photographer No.9 Report

Final score:
86points
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Susie Elle
Susie Elle
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wonder why people associate 'fun' with 'making mistakes'. You WILL make mistakes throughout your entire life, but they're often far from fun and not per se the result from having fun in the first place. Having fun means you do what you love and want to do and you can do that at any moment in time.

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#24

Folks Online Recall Their Biggest Teenage Fails, So Here Are 30 Of The Best Stories Trying to be someone who I wasn't

JosephBayot , Matt Gibson Report

Final score:
84points
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sofacushionfort
sofacushionfort
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Being a phony and hoping to pass it off? Definitely. An honest search for your true identity, trying various interests and relationships? That’s just being a mensch.

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#25

Folks Online Recall Their Biggest Teenage Fails, So Here Are 30 Of The Best Stories Spending a large inheritance I got when I was 18 in 2009. Could of owned a property outright by now

bKingas , Keith Cooper Report

Final score:
79points
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Keller Worthen
Keller Worthen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Must've been a very large inheritance with the current housing market

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#26

Folks Online Recall Their Biggest Teenage Fails, So Here Are 30 Of The Best Stories Never having had the courage to pursue girls or ask for help in figuring out how

Anooj4021 , Gareth Williams Report

Final score:
78points
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Guile main
Guile main
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm honestly having this problem with really wanting to talk to my crush, but when I get close I completely shut down, even though I do want to I just can't. Does anyone have advice that might help, because I don't want to also have this regret when I'm older

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#27

Folks Online Recall Their Biggest Teenage Fails, So Here Are 30 Of The Best Stories Shared bank account with girl at 19.

SpicyDoritos92 , 401(K) 2012 Report

Final score:
74points
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#28

Folks Online Recall Their Biggest Teenage Fails, So Here Are 30 Of The Best Stories Having an online relationship with a girl throughout high school who broke up with me after I flew out to visit her. Those were years I could’ve spent dating the girl I’d had a crush on since fifth grade.

falconsomething , IICD Report

Final score:
70points
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#29

Folks Online Recall Their Biggest Teenage Fails, So Here Are 30 Of The Best Stories I took my uncle's beautiful restored classic car for a drive when I didn't have a license and got it impounded.

throwawaysmetoo , Lisle Boomer Report

Final score:
68points
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#30

Folks Online Recall Their Biggest Teenage Fails, So Here Are 30 Of The Best Stories Not playing even more video games.

ISPY4ever , JackBrookes Report

Final score:
68points
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ItsJess
ItsJess
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same, my parents thought they were a total waste of time so I missed out on some great games

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