Reddit, what would you have told yourself five years ago?

Back then I would be a junior in highschool. I now have a degree and am going to grad school. I missed out on in lot in college because I was looking for knowledge, and kept my nose to the grindstone. I did experience success in most areas, but socially I am still sad. Back then, I imagined good experiences would magically occur. Now I know one has to trust others to truly experience the world. I wasn't a shut-in by any means. I was part of many clubs, but almost everything was related to school or a club. Being insincere at times led me to miss out in many relationships and friendships. I thought people wouldn't like who I was without the context of school/clubs because I had rarely experienced love elsewhere. Now I know that it is more rewarding to be liked who you are, rather than be liked for what you can be. The first thing I would tell myself is not to lie. So much was lost due to stupid lies, like lying about my favorite movie character led me to not connect with a crush of mine. I suppose I am like Max Fischer from Rushmore. The second thing I would tell myself is to trust people you've known for a long time and have been good to you. They wouldn't harm you pointlessly. It is important to learn, but learning is more than being in school and clubs. One has to experience love to love another. A few friends that have stuck with me unconditionally have helped me realize this. Wisdom is more valuable than knowledge. Through data we make information, information makes knowledge, and knowledge makes wisdom. People can try to share wisdom, but wisdom is most effectively shared when one person knows another like themselves. Don't try to build all your wisdom from yourself, it will take way too many books. It would be like rewriting all the books verbatim. Gain your wisdom from love and trust. You will not only gain more wisdom, but you'll be happier in the end that you can share your wisdom with others.

/r/AskReddit Thread