American Girl Magazine

Awesome Advice

Ten-year-old Julia asked this question: "If you could give one piece of advice to younger girls, what would it be?"

These girls shared their thoughts:

If I could give advice to younger girls, it would be, "Follow your dreams." A lot of girls dream of doing something, but they're too afraid to do it. I would encourage girls to always believe in their dreams, no matter what.
–Mackenzie, age 12, North Carolina

I would say to never be scared of making new friends. If you feel nervous, just smile! That way, people will see a friendly face and want to talk to you. This is how I made friends on the first day of middle school.
–Maddy, age 11, Wisconsin

Don't get carried away with thinking about how other girls view you. Wear the clothes that you like, make decisions for yourself, and don't do anything based on others' opinions of you.
–Alissa, age 13, Canada

One piece of advice I would give is that if you are caring toward others, they will be nice back to you. Girls should learn at a young age to accept differences and be kind to everyone.
–An American Girl fan, age 11, New York

Do what you love and don't follow the crowd. If all of the other girls sign up for gymnastics, don't be afraid to be the only one ice-skating. In the end, all that matters is spending time doing the thing you love.
–Linley, age 12, California

My advice would be to not to get caught up in drama. As girls get older, there tends to be a lot more gossip and drama. Avoid dramatic situations now, and you also might want to stay away from those situations as you get older.
–Addison, age 11, Virginia

Be a child while you still can. It's fun to pretend to be a grown-up, but once you grow up, you'll have a lot more homework and other responsibilities. Focus on enjoying the age you are right now.
–Emily, age 10, California

I would tell younger girls, "Don't be afraid to try something new." Since I'm a bit of a scaredy-cat, I think this is great advice for girls.
–An American Girl fan, age 11, Virginia

Don't freak out about boys. They are humans, too. It doesn't matter if a person is a boy or a girl—just be friends with everyone.
–Alex, age 13, Colorado

If I could give one piece of advice to a younger girl, it would be to include girls who feel left out. You could make a difference in a girl's life!
–Becca, age 12, Maryland

My advice would be to never outgrow your imagination—it can always take you to new places.
–Sara, age 11, Texas

When you grow up, sometimes you'll want to just fit in, but stay true to yourself. No matter how old you are, always remember the girl you still are inside.
–Clarisse, age 13, Massachusetts

I would tell younger girls to always be honest. Lying never turns out well, and you end up feeling worse than before you told the lie.
–Bethany, age 11, Michigan

My advice would be, "Finish what you start." After I started writing my first story, I felt as if I would never be good at it. But my big brother told me to finish what I started. I did, and my story turned out great!
–Christina, age 13, New York

Learn when to forgive and when to say you're sorry. When you get mad at a friend or a friend gets mad at you, you need to resolve it. If you don't, the issue could ruin your friendship.
–Kasey, age 12, Kentucky

Don't be afraid to ask for help. I tend to feel embarrassed when I ask for help. But after I get help, whether it's help with homework or advice from a parent, I always feel better.
–Bree, age 13, Wyoming

Remember, you are beautiful just the way you are!
–Greta, age 11, Minnesota

I would say study hard and be kind. Never be afraid to speak out about what you believe is right. Be a strong girl, and someday you'll be a strong woman. Have fun, but be poised and polite, too. I don't think any girl's life can go wrong if she sincerely tries to do these things, and I believe that with all my heart.
–Maria, age 12, Missouri