If your friend is talking about something they find fascinating and it’s not something you would be interested in, don’t call it “lame” or “boring.”

It might be something you don’t care about, but they do.

And being a good friend means giving them the space to talk about it. If they want to share it with you, ask them about it. Patiently listen. Let them be excited about it. Don’t make it about you.

You don’t have to like what someone likes to respect the fact that they like it.

Yucking someone’s yum and making them feel ashamed or embarrassed about something they are passionate about is really mean.

Because how would you feel if someone did that to you?

Imagine being excited to tell someone about something you love, only for them to laugh at you or immediately dismiss it.

Would you want to share something with them again?

Sometimes yucking someone’s yum isn’t as obvious as calling something “lame.”

It can be someone constantly cutting you off while you’re speaking.

It can be someone making fun of something you were genuinely excited about.

It can be someone calling the thing you like “boring.”

It can be someone rolling their eyes every time you start talking about something you love.

And maybe they don’t even realise they’re doing it.

But you notice.

And slowly, you start talking less.

You stop sharing things.

You start thinking twice before telling them what excites you because you don’t want to be judged for it.

Talking to someone you can’t be yourself around is so suffocating.

And making someone feel that way is really evil.

Be kind.

Kindness is not always a big gesture.

People often mistake being kind as something that means you need to donate to a cause or help the homeless, but there is so much more to it.

Kindness is sometimes a tiny thing that makes a difference in someone’s life.

Being kind is letting someone speak without cutting them off in the middle.

Being kind is listening to someone talk about something they are passionate about, even if it’s something you don’t care about.

Being kind is knowing when not to give out your opinion if it might hurt someone’s feeling.

Sometimes being kind is not trying to fix someone’s feelings, but simply letting them feel them.

If you are having a bad day and a stranger compliments your outfit or calls you pretty, wouldn’t that make your day a little better?

There’s more to kindness than you know.

You never know when someone is having a bad day.

And if you are making it worse for someone who is already going through a difficult time, then where is your humanity?

Sometimes it’s as simple as remembering that your friend once told you about something they liked and asking them about it later.

Sometimes it’s noticing that someone is being left out of a conversation and including them.

Sometimes it’s seeing someone get cut off while speaking and giving them the space to finish.

Sometimes it’s simply letting someone know, “I’m listening.”

I have always been that friend who notices when someone is left out in a group and tries to include them.

I notice when someone gets cut off while speaking, and I try to give them the space to talk and let them know that I’m listening.

And when you do that, there is this spark in that person’s eye.

Genuine happiness that there is someone who is there to listen to their yum.

And honestly, it really does take just one person being kind enough to listen to make a difference.

You don’t always realise how much the little things you do matter until someone tells you that they noticed.

One of my friends shared a reel that said, “the one sweet girl in the friend group that includes all.”

There was something so sweet about knowing she thought of me when she saw it.

It wasn’t some huge compliment, but it meant a lot because she had noticed something I didn’t even think much about.

And that’s what kindness can be.

Something so small to you, but something someone else remembers.

Kindness isn’t unknown, but you shouldn’t do it with a motive to gain recognition or praise.

Be kind because you want to be kind.

Because being kind doesn’t cost you anything.

But being kind doesn’t mean you have to agree with everyone or pretend to like everything.

You can dislike something without humiliating the person who likes it.

You can have your own opinion without making someone else feel small for theirs.

You can tell someone you don’t like something without making them feel stupid for loving it.

And don’t let your kindness be taken for granted either.

There is a difference between being kind and being too nice to the point where people misuse your kindness.

You can have boundaries and still be kind.

You can say no and still be kind.

You can walk away from someone and still be kind.

Maybe kindness is simply knowing when to listen, when to speak, when to let someone be, and when to remind someone that they are allowed to enjoy the things that make them happy.

So if you can be kinder, be kinder.

You never know whose day you might change with something as small as listening.

Each of us has a spark of light called “potential” in us. Potential is the possibility or ability someone has to develop into something greater or achieve something in the future.

But the way one utilises it differs from person to person. Some use it to its maximum potential, while others barely realise they have it in them. Then there are those who know they have the potential to do better but are too lazy to work on it. They believe they’ll start tomorrow or at the beginning of a new month. They wait for the right time, but that time just never comes as they keep procrastinating and wasting their potential.

Now you might question, how do we even use our potential to the max?

Honestly, it’s the small things the small habits that make up your routine.

Being consistent even on the days you have no motivation.

Working even on the days you feel like giving up.

And taking a break when you need it.

It’s not about being perfect every single day. It’s about showing up, doing what you can, and slowly becoming better than you were yesterday.

Even if you do it for just 10 minutes, it still counts. Ten minutes is better than none. So do it.

I have seen reels of someone who is just about my age and does it all. They are smart, go to the gym every day, have a source of income they created on their own, hang out with friends and do a lot of fun side quests.

Isn’t that a teenager’s dream?

I would wanna score a 9.0+ CGPA, work out daily so I can stay fit, earn for myself so I can spoil myself and buy gifts for my family and friends, travel, and do side quests with my friends.

Have fun, but also focus on my career. A perfect balance.

Honestly, I do think everyone can achieve it if they work right.

Though there are some people who are handed whatever they want, and that makes us question: is life truly fair?

But don’t you think everyone has their ups and downs? We all go through something, even though from the outside, it may seem picture-perfect.

So rather than comparing our lives to someone else’s, shouldn’t we work hard to reach that sort of lifestyle?

Shouldn’t you stop waiting for tomorrow and start today?

It’s only you who can make your life better.

Because 10 years from now, rather than looking back with regret and thinking, “I wish I would have,” you should have a smile on your face thinking, “I’m so happy I did.”

It is worth the hard work.
It’s worth the sacrifice.
It’s worth it for a better ending.

Let the spark grow and make you glow.

Next time you think, “Can I really do this?”

Remember: yes, you can.

You just need to unlock your potential.

In the back of my mind, I have always had it in my head that I wanna earn and pay them back, not because they are asking, but I just want to lessen their burden.

But coming from somewhere where part-time jobs aren’t normalised, it’s really hard to get an opportunity.

Now that I’m in college, I wanna start earning so at least I can take care of my own expenses, but where I live, part-time jobs are like 9 to 5 and as a college student, I can’t really join them.

Substack also has a paid subscriber feature, but due to living in a region where Stripe doesn’t accept, I can’t really enable the paid feature sadly. But that isn’t gonna stop me from writing here because it’s something I really enjoy.

But I still wanna find a way. I don’t expect to make a lot of money or suddenly become financially independent. I just want to start somewhere. Even if it’s enough to pay for my own little expenses, it would mean something to me.

I think what makes it frustrating is that I’m willing to work, but finding something that actually fits around college feels so difficult. I don’t want to choose between my education and earning money.

So for now, I’m trying to figure it out. Maybe writing can be one of those things. Maybe it’ll work, maybe it won’t. But I’d rather try than keep thinking about how I wish I could earn.

If you guys have any suggestions or ideas, do share. I’d genuinely love to hear them.

Back in school, you’re usually part of a much smaller community. You know the people around you, you know what to expect, and there isn’t quite the same amount of freedom.

Then you get to college.

Suddenly, you’re surrounded by all sorts of people the party crowd, the nerds, the weirdos, the nepo babies, the super ambitious ones, the people who somehow seem to have their entire life figured out, and the ones who are just there to have a good time.

And with so much freedom, it’s really easy to get influenced.

You might look at someone and think, “They’re so much cooler than me.” Or maybe you start comparing yourself and wondering if you’re the loser in the room.

You start questioning what you’re doing, what you’re supposed to be doing, and whether you should change yourself to fit in.

And sometimes, it isn’t even the big things you notice first. It’s the little things whose opinions start getting to you, what you start thinking is “normal,” what you suddenly feel insecure about, or even what you convince yourself you should want.

People are gonna talk anyway, so why let that get in your head?

I know it’s easier said than done because I’ve been there too. But honestly, it’s not worth letting someone who only sees the outside picture make you question something they know nothing about.

This is why surrounding yourself with like-minded people is so important for growth.

They say, “one bad apple ruins the whole bunch,” and honestly, I think there’s a lot of truth to that.

The people you surround yourself with can slowly influence the way you think, the things you believe, your habits, and even the goals you have for yourself.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have fun. You should! Go out, party, meet people, try new things and enjoy your college years. But you also need to know your own limits and, more importantly, listen to your inner voice.

If something doesn’t feel right to you, you don’t have to do it just because everyone else is.

College gives you the freedom to figure out who you are. Don’t let that freedom turn into losing yourself just because you’re trying to fit into someone else’s idea of what’s cool.

So next time, think twice about the company you keep.

Choose people who inspire you, challenge you, support your growth, and make you want to become a better version of yourself.

Because sometimes, the people around you are shaping you more than you think.