N I N A N E S B I T T
a letter to my 15 year old self
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She may be only 22, but a LOT has happened for singer/songwriter Nina Nesbitt since she was writing and uploading songs to Youtube at just 15 years old.
Her debut album, Peroxide went to No. 1 in the iTunes charts just hours after its release and she’s performed at Glastonbury, V-festival and T in the Park. We wondered what advice Nina would give to her 15 year old self if she had the chance, so she wrote herself a letter... |
Hey Nina… Well this is weird! haha
So, right now you’re good, you are. You might not be able to imagine what the future holds, but I’m telling you, you’re going to be fine.
It takes a while to find true friends, but now you’re 15, you’ve found your friends for life. These guys will always be your mates, and although you’ll eventually be in different places, doing different things, you’ll stay great friends and meet up whenever you’re are in the same place. You’re going to make a lot more too! It's good to have a variety of different friends, like best mates, going out mates, and your childhood mates. I know it’s a difficult time being at school, being a teenager where EVERYONE worries about who they're friends with, or being popular, but all this becomes SO irrelevant. All I’ll say is get rid of fake friends, don't hang out with people that make you feel like crap. Surround yourself with positive people that love and care about you.
I know Mum’s always encouraging you to find something that makes you happy and to do something you enjoy. But honestly, this is the best advice, ever! It's always really important, doing things for yourself, not just because people want you to or it's the 'done thing'.
Stop getting stressed about what grades you’ll get in subjects you don’t like. Don't get overly worried about failing exams either, you've been taught it so you know it! It's not the be all and end all, there are so many different routes. Set yourself little goals as well as big ones and remember, as long as you work hard at the things you love, you’ll be alright!
So, right now you’re good, you are. You might not be able to imagine what the future holds, but I’m telling you, you’re going to be fine.
It takes a while to find true friends, but now you’re 15, you’ve found your friends for life. These guys will always be your mates, and although you’ll eventually be in different places, doing different things, you’ll stay great friends and meet up whenever you’re are in the same place. You’re going to make a lot more too! It's good to have a variety of different friends, like best mates, going out mates, and your childhood mates. I know it’s a difficult time being at school, being a teenager where EVERYONE worries about who they're friends with, or being popular, but all this becomes SO irrelevant. All I’ll say is get rid of fake friends, don't hang out with people that make you feel like crap. Surround yourself with positive people that love and care about you.
I know Mum’s always encouraging you to find something that makes you happy and to do something you enjoy. But honestly, this is the best advice, ever! It's always really important, doing things for yourself, not just because people want you to or it's the 'done thing'.
Stop getting stressed about what grades you’ll get in subjects you don’t like. Don't get overly worried about failing exams either, you've been taught it so you know it! It's not the be all and end all, there are so many different routes. Set yourself little goals as well as big ones and remember, as long as you work hard at the things you love, you’ll be alright!
image: pinterest
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"It's really cool that you’re able to document people and things through your music and not many people will inspire you to write songs – so if they do, they're the ones to keep around!"
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Whenever you can, work with people who inspire you. I know (obviously, because we’re the same person!) that family and friends are really important to you, but ANYONE who inspires you creatively to write are important too. It's really cool that you’re able to document people and things through your music and not many people will inspire you to write songs – so if they do, they're the ones to keep around!
STOP with the worrying about what one person thinks of you, or wondering if ‘that guy’ likes you. Happiness and being confident in yourself is key. My tip for love would be… don't bother haha! Be single, don't put pressure on finding 'the one'. No relationship is a fairytale, you have to work at things if you want them to work. Find someone that makes you feel good about yourself, don't get confused between love and infatuation and always be in control of your own feelings. Trust me on this (and stop rolling your eyes!)… I've found that relationships that are based on infatuation or that make you feel completely out of control don't last compared to being best mates with the person and have a healthy relationship that you feel in control of.
Hold onto your dreams of becoming a singer/songwriter and moving to London, and work toward them every day because it WILL happen. Moving to London and becoming completely independent will be a significant thing for sure, but surrounding yourself with those good friends you’ve made (and yet to make) will make it easier. I promise.
You’re going to experience so many different highs and lows, seriously, I’m excited, for you haha. Getting to travel around the world with your music will be amazing, I look back on some of the shows I've played and places I've been and I'm like “Ah that really happened!” So take the time to appreciate them.
Little Nina (yes, I am patronizing you!), you’ve absolutely no idea how much harder life gets when you become an adult. I thought everything was so important when I was your age but I look back and I'm like, “what was all that about?!” It's just really important that you enjoy the moment and don’t grow up too fast!
If I could tell you just one other thing, have fun, don't work TOO hard. Remember to take time to go out with friends or whatever you like doing. Like I said, there’ll be highs and lows in your life, so make sure you cherish the positives. And the things that aren't so great? That’s the stuff great songs are made of…
Love Nina X
Hold onto your dreams of becoming a singer/songwriter and moving to London, and work toward them every day because it WILL happen. Moving to London and becoming completely independent will be a significant thing for sure, but surrounding yourself with those good friends you’ve made (and yet to make) will make it easier. I promise.
You’re going to experience so many different highs and lows, seriously, I’m excited, for you haha. Getting to travel around the world with your music will be amazing, I look back on some of the shows I've played and places I've been and I'm like “Ah that really happened!” So take the time to appreciate them.
Little Nina (yes, I am patronizing you!), you’ve absolutely no idea how much harder life gets when you become an adult. I thought everything was so important when I was your age but I look back and I'm like, “what was all that about?!” It's just really important that you enjoy the moment and don’t grow up too fast!
If I could tell you just one other thing, have fun, don't work TOO hard. Remember to take time to go out with friends or whatever you like doing. Like I said, there’ll be highs and lows in your life, so make sure you cherish the positives. And the things that aren't so great? That’s the stuff great songs are made of…
Love Nina X