Life Lessons: What I Wish I Knew When I was 17!



• Darn, girl, you look good; Stop wishing you were tall and had perfect hair. ⁠ ⁠So often we want to look like someone we aren’t, WHY? Appreciate who you are and build on your strengths!
• Explore your areas of interest; This will help you figure out what you want to do with your life. It'll involve something you are good at but not in any way you can imagine at 17. Just know your life and career will be awesome if you are open-minded, try hard, and make good choices. ⁠
• Use sunscreen and start moisturizing your neck now; It takes a lifetime of good skin care to enjoy the benefits when you’re older. A healthy lifestyle of eating fresh fruits and vegetables combined with physical activity is also key to looking and feeling your best. 
• Advocate for yourself, YOU are your best supporter; One gets so much further if they are able to talk directly and respectfully with their teachers, coaches, prospective employers, advisers, landlords, store clerks, human resource managers, coworkers, bank tellers, health care providers, bus drivers, etc. At Beksan Designs, our strong relationships with everyone we work with has been key to our success. 
• Be able to find YOUR way around using good manners; Whether at school, around town, working or studying, getting to know your community is super important!  You can use apps on your phone for directions, but it is important to get to know places to shop, good restaurants, parks etc. so you can enjoy your community. 
• Assist in your household; As the saying goes, “less work with many hands.” In the process, you can learn simple cooking techniques, create a few signature dishes you enjoy eating, do laundry, and minimize mess in your room which will be so helpful when you’re living on your own.
• Build your toolkit to cope with ups and downs of life;This includes finding ways to deal with tough teachers, mean friends, issues with family members etc. Can you breathe deeply and step away from a situation when you are angry or feeling anxious?  Do you have a trusted adult or counselor you can talk to?  Learning how to cope is a very important skill to move through life.
• Develop your own sense of style and identity; Have fun trying new fashion styles, stepping outside the box to experiment with clothing, accessories, and jewelry until you find the YOU that reflects who you are.

At Beksan Designs, we create jewelry pieces that are fashionable and flattering for all ages.  Whether you you’re in the mood for gemstones, gold tones, sterling silver, delicate or statement pieces, we offer unique, handcrafted pieces for you to create your own personal style.   

We’re also continuing to expand our presence at art shows, galleries, and retail stores. Any suggestions for Holiday Shows or stores you think would be a good fit for us?  We hope you will check out our events, website or stop by one of our retail partners.  Thank you for being a part of our story and all your support!

Adapted from:  https://www.today.com/parents/8-life-skills-all-18-year-olds-should-have-checklist-t68666