Your youth is arguably one of the most important transitions of your life, and it's your right to try so many new things and have as much fun as you can, but it's often hard to narrow it down to the key things you want to do. We've compiled a list for you of the most fun, most life-changing experiences you can have while still young.
1) Have a bonfire night.
Get all your friends and family together and set up a huge bonfire somewhere it's safe. You can start some fireworks, roast marshmallows, and spend the whole night outside in front of the fire.
2) Go stargazing.
For this, you'll need lots of pillows, blankets, and duvets. You can drive out to anywhere you want, as long as it's a peaceful, secluded area, like a field or a beach. Set up camp with all your warm covers, and make sure you're comfortable.
Once that's done, you have the whole night ahead of you to look up and watch the stars. It's even better if you research different constellations beforehand, so you know what to look for.
3) Make a slip-n-slide.
All you need is some washing-up liquid and a lot of tarpaulins. Find a field somewhere. It should be on a slope, to get a better descent, but you can decide how steep you want it.
Peg the tarpaulin into the ground at a downwards angle, and cover it in washing-up liquid. Then you'll need to spray a hose onto it, creating a flow to slide on. You and your friends can spend the day jumping down, sunbathing, and having water fights in the sun.
4) Go pier jumping.
Most beaches have piers, but you'll need to make sure the one you pick is the right distance up, and that the water below it isn't too shallow. Pier jumping can be scary, but it gives a massive adrenaline rush, and it's great for team-building.
5) Go to a theme park.
You can go to a theme park or even a local fair. In either one, you'll find candy floss, hot dogs, games, and rides. Bring all your friends along and spend the day having fun and getting scared out of your mind.
6) Have an all-night movie marathon.
You can do this alone or with all your favorite people, but for both, you'll need plenty of duvets, pillows, and blankets. Set up a warm, comfy fort on the floor of your living room, and pick a movie. You can either binge-watch a series, or simply pick a genre, like horror, rom-com, or Disney. Then spend the entire night watching as many films as possible.
7) Go on a road trip.
This doesn't have to be long, or expensive, or complicated. You can simply pick a nearby destination, and set off just for the day. The journey is the most important part, and as long as you have a pillow, good music, and a lot of snacks, I guarantee you'll have a good time.
8) Be a tourist.
You can do this anywhere, even your own town, or the town closest to yours. Spend the day visiting all the landmarks, fancy cafes, museums, and photographing everything you see. Sometimes it can be refreshing to look at something so familiar with a new perspective.
9) Drastically change your hair.
Every big transition in life tends to be marked by a drastic change of hair, and growing up should be no different. If you want to chop all of your hair off, do it. If you want to dye it a bunch of shockingly bright colors, do it. It's your hair, and as long as you feel like the best possible version of your true self, it'll be perfect.
10) Have a photoshoot.
Doing this with your friends is always the most fun, but you can do this alone too. Spend the day doing makeup and putting together outfits, and the afternoon playing around with lighting, settings, and atmosphere. It doesn't have to be for anyone else's eyes but yourself, so just have fun with it and express yourself.
11) Re-style your room.
Your bedroom is often said to reflect your mood, and it's a place of retreat and safety, so it should look and feel like a warm, welcoming place. Like with your hair, by changing the way your bedroom looks you're essentially announcing a change in yourself, so go all out. You can visit thrift shops and find things you most like, paint the walls, hang up pictures of your friends and family, and do whatever you can to truly make it a place you love being in.
12) Make a scrapbook.
This is essential to record your experiences for future you and it can be a fun project to do when you have some spare time on your hands. Use all the colors you want to create beautiful fonts and borders, and mix photographs with tickets. pressed flowers, and any souvenirs that remind you of things you lived through.
13) Write a letter to your future self.
It doesn't have to say anything specific, and it's for your eyes only, so it might contain something very personal, but good things to talk about are: things you wish to remember, things you want to accomplish, things you hope for future you, and any advice you might want to tell him or her.
14) Do one thing that scares you.
While it seems cliche, this is a perfect example of an enriching experience. Whether it's a fear of heights, spiders, or commitment, facing it will give you immeasurable relief, as well as reminding you that you really can do anything you set your mind to.
15) Make lots of friends and fall in love.
Finally, the thing you'll remember the most when you're older isn't the experiences you have, but the people you meet along the way. Surround yourself with people who share your values and sense of humor, and who make you feel happy and loved.
