I really need some help in the career area. Well anyway, what’s up is I’ve been wanting to become a physio for several years, but when I was 17 my dad didn’t let me do YR 12 because he thought that business was for me, but I never wanted to be chained to a boring desk. That would never be purposeful for me. Well, dad does not live in the household anymore so it’s just me and my mum.
This year I decided to make my dream my goal and make it become reality so I’ve been doing YR 12 part time. Anyway because I have to look for a full time job or centerlink will not pay me, I’m stuck because they say I must get a full time job and I have to quit my course which means quitting my dream. I don’t know what to do and they don’t accept part time work either. I don’t want to sound like I’m whining but if I study full time I can’t pay my bills.
What should I do? I’m also wondering, could sponsorship be an option and how would I get it. I don’t want to give up on my dreams and reality is I have 10 weeks till my exams and then I will work as many hours as they demand my work. Really need HELP, don’t know how I’m gonna solve this problem and finish my course.
What’s up? It’s your pal, Josh. I couldn’t help but notice your latest photo shoot has caused a little controversy. I’m sure you’ve heard what some people are saying: that you’re trying to grow up too fast, that you’re not mature enough to be posing like that, yadda yadda yadda. Some of these people are probably just jealous that you’ve amassed millions of fans and made millions of dollars (congrats on that, by the way). Others may actually have your best interests in mind.
Here’s my advice:
Be yourself, not who others expect you to be. Just because you found Lindsay Lohan’s playbook doesn’t mean you have to steal the plays.
Remember you’re a public role model–everything you do will be imitated by thousands of girls, so all of your decisions have consequences. (If that realization scares the Hannah Montana out of you, don’t freak out. If you need help, I got your back.)
Sexually exploiting yourself is not a sign of maturity; it’s a sign of insecurity. Think about it.
BTW, I hate to be the one to break it to you, but…FACT: you are still a kid. Embrace it. Being a kid rocks. Sure, you’re independently wealthy and wildly successful, but that doesn’t make you all gown up.
In your face but on your side,
// josh
Hey You, what do you think about Miley Cyrus’ photos in Elle? What’s your advice?
I get a lot of emails from teens and twenty somethings who spill their guts to me and ask for my advice. It’s flattering. It’s humbling. It’s exhilarating. It keeps me up at night and inspires me to get up in the morning. And sometimes it just downright breaks my heart.
Like this.
A girl recently sent me a request for advice on YouTube. I asked her if it would be cool if I shared the vid with you. She said, “Indeed.”
This makes me sad for two reasons:
1// She’s going through this
2// A LOT of you are going through this
People ask me “How can I deal with my parents?” all the time, and it’s not an easy question. I know—I dealt with twelve different sets of parents growing up in foster care. Anyway, hold on to your socks for an in-depth look at this issue coming in the near future. In the meantime, here’s my response back to Kiley—I share it with you b/c it’s what I’d tell you if you had the same problem:
Hey there,
Sorry about your situation. My advice would be to focus on what you DO have, instead of what you DON’T have.
You DO have friends who care about you.
Love you.
Respect you.
Want you.
If your parents don’t feel like way (which is crazy) that is their problem. I wish I could give you some secret advice to make your parents change.
***BUT I CAN’T***
So this is a situation where the only thing you have control over is how you react.
You are a valuable person. And lovable. If your parents truly don’t see that, it’s their loss. Not yours.
// josh
P.S. May I put your video on heyjosh.com? I think a lot of teens could relate to your situation.
I also asked for some advice from a few friends of mine on her situation. Here’s what they brought to the table:
Advice from bvantil:
Hey Kiley, you seem like a great person, and that your family life is in a ‘valley’ right now. Be sure you take the time to sit them down one on one and explain how you feel, but be sure to ask what’s going on with THEM—you may be surprised at why they’re acting the way they are…and it’s okay to confide (and vent) to your friends (that’s what friends are for!
Advice from melissacwalker:
Aw, Kiley. Find the people who value you—your friends, the people you CHOOSE to have in your life—and stick with them. Let them build you up, and focus on that.
So, what’s YOUR take? Two things I’m wondering:
Firstly, if you’ve been through something like this, how have you dealt with it? What did you learn from it? What worked? What didn’t? Second, what advice would you give to her/someone like her?
Dear Girl Who Fell into a Staten Island Sewer While Texting,
I know, it wasn’t entirely your fault. And I’m sorry it happened. Those evil workers should have put up orange cones or neon warning lights or barricades or something for you to bump into. But let’s face it, falling into an open manhole is only possible if a) you are legally blind, or b) you are not paying attention to where you’re going.
Advice is what I do, so here’s my advice:
Don’t text and walk, unless you’re a wizard. Or you actually want to fall into holes.
Especially don’t text and walk while you’re with your friend; pay attention to the person you’re with. It’s polite.
Watch where you’re going, on the street and in life. A wise man once created the cliche: if you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll probably end up somewhere else. Like a sewer. Ewwww.
Don’t sue. That is so 2001. Take responsibility for your actions.
Take a shower and buy new shoes.
A safe distance upwind, but on your side,
// josh
PS — Dear Friend of Girl Who Fell into the Sewer: Why on earth didn’t you WARN your friend that she was about to fall into a hole in the ground? Were you texting, too?
Hey You, do you text and walk? What’s the craziest thing you’ve done while texting?
Let’s talk about death for a second. More specifically, your death. When do you think it will happen?
No, I’m not trying to freak you out. Honestly. A recent survey showed that 1 in 7 teens think they’ll die an early death. That’s almost 15% of teenagers that don’t think they’ll live to see their 35th birthday.
Not surprisingly, the study shows that this kind of belief leads to riskier behavior among teens. We’re talking greater drug use, unprotected sex, and violence. So I have to ask: if a person thinks they’re going to die young, are they more likely to start making riskier choices in life OR is it the people who already make those risky choices that think they’re going to die young?
So what do you think? How long will you live? And how do your thoughts on death affect how you live your life now?
