Last year I had the privilege of writing the book, iAware: Becoming Self Aware and College Bound, with two brilliant high school seniors, Lauryn Humphreys, and Ali Houmani.

The result: an impactful read for young people about managing life’s challenges as a teenager preparing for and navigating through, the college years.

A major discovery: challenging situations for students are not exclusive to young adults. Leaders, professionals, and adults alike experience the same things often, just in different contexts, and can benefit from the advice young people have about managing life’s current challenges.

While writing iAware, we gathered letters students sent to their younger selves, giving advice for their future self. The excerpts below are words of wisdom and advice from those letters. Leaders, listen up!

Leaders: by now you should have some of it figured out, but you won’t have it all figured out, we’ll never have it all figured out! If you think you have it all figured out, you still have a lot to learn. Take time to reflect on when you didn’t think you had it all figured out, were you more motivated to experience “different things”? I suggest finding that motivation again.

Talk to that one person you thought you would have never talked to. You can learn so much about a person and you have no idea what value they can bring. ~Avanika 

Leaders: is there someone in your organization who you really don’t know? Or maybe you have brief interactions on a daily basis but never have taken time to learn about them? Take time to reflect on when you cultivated new relationships with people outside of your circle, as a younger person. What positive experiences came out of that relationship?

Don’t let your failures hold you back. I did not get accepted into my college of choice and I felt like a failure…My advice to you is to make the best of it and work hard to develop your path in the college that you attend…I wish I hadn’t wasted time being feeling rejected and just focused on getting the most from my college experience early on. ~ Jillian W.

Leaders: When have you turned your failure into a success? Reflect on those moments from your past and when you see yourself or others in your organization feeling like a failure, guide them to turning it into a success, just as you did.

Don’t be afraid to go out of your comfort zone and try to better yourself…be aware that people have preconceived notions and may label you a failure before they even know what you are capable of. Don’t be afraid of these people, and don’t avoid situations where you may prove them right, because you very well may prove them wrong.  ~Devin  

Leaders: Remember when you went out of your comfort zone as a teenager?
It was probably a daily occurrence! You survived and even became stronger from the experience. Take chances that will benefit your organization by getting out of your comfort zone and allow people in your company to do the same. You may doubt they will succeed, give them the opportunity to prove you wrong.

What would you say?
The act of reflecting on your experiences and the lessons they taught you about yourself is a meaningful exercise. To sit down, put a pen to paper, and interact with your younger or future self, opens up a whole new world of self-exploration and realization.