I. HOW TO ENTER:
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Enter by entering your full name, address, email address, and date of birth in the below form on RandomBuzzers.com with your response to the following question in 200 words or less: If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be? Entries must be received by Random House no later than June 15, 2010. All personal information will be kept private.
LIMIT ONE ENTRY PER FAMILY. Partially completed or illegible entries will not be accepted. Sponsors are not responsible for lost, late, mutilated, illegible, stolen, postage-due, incomplete, or misdirected entries. By participating in the sweepstakes, each entrant fully and unconditionally agrees to and accepts these Official Rules and the decisions of sponsor, which are final and binding in all matters related to the sweepstakes.
II. ELIGIBILITY:
Sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States or the District of Columbia who are over 13 years of age as of March 30, 2010. All federal, state, and local laws and regulations apply. Void wherever prohibited or restricted by law. Employees of Random House, Inc., and its parent companies, assigns, subsidiaries or affiliates, advertising, promotion, and fulfillment agencies, and their immediate families, and persons living in their household are not eligible to enter this sweepstakes. III. PRIZE: 1 (one) grand prize winner will receive a $250.00 Amex Gift Card to put toward a phone and/or mobile accessories and a phone call from author, Sarah Mlynowski. Total Retail Value: $250.00. Prize is nontransferable and nonrefundable.
III. WINNER:
One grand prize winner will be selected by the Random House Children's Books Marketing Department based on creativity and originality on or about June 22, 2010, from all eligible entries received within the entry deadline. By participating, entrants agree to be bound by the Official Rules and the decision of the judges, which shall be final and binding in all respects. Entrant selected must comply with all terms and conditions of these Official Rules and winning is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements.
SenzaVyvaz:
javaalchemist:
I'd tell myself to treat my family better. I have always choose my friends over my family, and I have always regretted it afterwords. I'd tell myself that friends come and go, family will always be there for you.
DragonRider3195: I'd tell myself not to worry about the future, because it will all work out right. I'd also tell myself not to drink too much Mountain Dew :).
qwill:
I'd tell myself to keep pitching and to get a small dog instead of a big one.
Rosittaa:
(I had to really shorten this for it to take this in the submission box, but I still want it to be out there so I am making it go here
)
Well to be honest, I am not sure. There are lots of little things I could think of but the truth is that I won't know what I need advice on till I am older and look back to see what I could have done better. That is a very hard question to answer and I think that there really is no answer at all. I could come up with what I think I should do better now or something silly but to give a truthful answer would be to say that I don't know. The only advice that I can think to say is to be open to others advice, but do not let their ideas override your own. Have a mind of your own and listen to what your mind and heart are telling you is right. Learn to listen and then use what you already know to make your own opinion on things. Do not let people pressure you into being like them and learn all you can and keep learning, no matter how old you get because you may know many things but no one knows everything.
Two more things,
One,
Love your family no matter what they do. They may say things that hurt or get on your nerves to the breaking point but love them all the more. They are your strong hold and the thing that will always be there, so treat them kind and do to them what you want them to do to you, no matter what they actually are doing.
Two,
Do NOT ever lose sight of God. People are imperfect and they hurt you even when they don't mean to. But God only wants to love and that is what He will do. He will comfort you when you are sad and help you when you are miserable. Even when he seems a million miles away, still pray. When you are so tired it hurts and you want to read another book, open your Bible and read a passage, a page, even a chapter, but read. He has all the answers and wants to show you them but the only way to find them is to read the Bible. He doesn’t talk aloud but he has all the wisdom in the world and the answer to every problem in that book. All you have to do is look in it. He is the end and the beginning. When everything else is gone and your family is cranky and you are miserable and just feel like falling, he will give you strength to keep going. You may not believe me but what I say is true. For if you let Him go, nothing can save you.
cories:
I didn't like the limit either. Here's mine in its entirety (more or less):
Don't stress so much. Have some fun along the way. Granted, getting into a good college was the holy grail of my childhood; getting stressed enough to have stomach pains is not the way to go. Also, relax enough to enjoy being with my siblings, my family and especially the dog. Be nicer and more forgiving toward my little brother. Be a bit pickier about the guys I date because some of them are real idiots, even though they are nice guys, and will adversely affect my future relationships. Take deep breaths and enjoy the growing up process more; it's not just something to push through and endure, it should be lived. And we are always more attractive than we think we are.
Whitney:
This is the longer version of what i sent in.
I would tell myself that i should take the advantage to do the things i need to do while i have the chance and to think about whether im making the right decision before i choose to do something and also that i need to put others before myself and help out all of my friends and family as much as i can
RavensWing93:
Catharine Mary Huth
4I Greenfield Apartments Livingston, Alabama
sunprincess1@hotmail.com
December 16, 1993
If I could give my younger self advice I would tell me that out of everything, boyfriends and friends and crushes and family that your friends and family are most important. Boyfriends come and go, but your family is always going to be your family. And if they are true friends, they will stick around even after TONS of drama goes down, and you guys fight, and even go out with the same guy that you and your bestfriend both like. The other thing that I would tell myself is to trust my instincts and my heart because they usually tell me to do the right thing.
avcraw2:
I would cherish my family. I would pay much closer attention to the elderly people that came into my life and were there for way too short a time. I would stay in school.
mugencivic:
I would tell my younger self to take a risk and go after what I want to do and dream about and to make the best of every day....and be grateful for all i have daily.
amandaboo11:
Don’t quit ballet after 1 month. Send in an audition for Endurance 7. Value your parents’ middle class income. Scarlett is NOT a good friend. Spend more time with Nora. Don't let Angie lose your My Little Pony Tales tape.
GRERHAKENIGI:
My Advice:
I was what you might call a "New Girl" at my school, and I didn't feel like I fit in at all. After about a week, I became someone I wasn't. I was being all fake and phony just to make friends, that didn't even like me. If I could give my younger self advice for the future, it would be to be myself, and to not act like something I'm not. The second piece of advice would be, to never put friends in front of family. Friends come and go, but family will always be there. Alot of kids, don't believe in themselves, this generation, so I would tell myself to always go for what I believe in, and to never give up. Live life with no regrets. The reason I would tell my younger self that, is because, you never know what life is going to bring you. If you make a mistake, it might change your life, for good, and not always bad. Never question what you believe in, and always follow your dreams. Now, if only I knew this sooner, I would've been soo much better off.
Thank you for this opportunity.
Enjoy!
:)
YABookShelf: Dear HS self: you are a beautiful, intelligent and eloquent girl, so when you speak, people will listen.
reader4life99: I would tell my younger self to be free, don't hold back or be scared. To have no regrets and don't ponder on previous failures. Always trust yourself, heart and decisions. Every decision you make will result in a hit or miss; every hit is a stepping stone and a miss is a a new lesson on life and can use it in the future. Just explore and live every day to the fullest because you never know what the next day holds for you.
lainie
i love you can i win the phone please.
kalie hi my name is kalie i will love to win a phone so just let me know your phone number and i will love to call you. ok
kalie hi my name is kalie does any one know sarah mlynowski number if so comment me back ok . love you all
kalie
hi how can i get a boy friend with this cell phone please help me from kalie
kalie
does any one like
black veil brides andy sixx.i love it it is awesome because me kalie i love to sing
Zach seibers Sweat
kalie hi zach my name is kalie what is so sweat
kalie hi every one from kalie
kalie hi zach does any one like school from kalie
kalie hi sarah from kalie
kkrm996:
Life has it's ups and downs. There are no mistakes in life if you learn from everything you do. Live with no regrets. Don't let an opportunity to have fun pass you by. Life is an adventure enjoy every minute of it. There will be sad times, and it is not fair. Don't let it turn you bitter, your gonna have a lot to deal with. Oh yah and PS don't date that guy hot guy you meet in the bar when your 25, lesson better off not learned!!! Trust me, not worth it.
kalie hi every one how can i find a emo goth boyfrined for me from kalie
kalie hi every one its me
Bruinsnhl:
be more imaginitive dude
kalie
hi its emo kalie
kalie hi i just smoked and i loved it so bad. from kalie
kalie
hey whats up every body its me kalie just wanted to know what you guys are doing
kalie no one is talking to me from kalie please talk to me.
kalie hi zach whATS UP WHAT ARE YOU DOING
Aldith Johnson i want 2 connect 2 my bf
Nicole Sheriff
07. 21, 1993
1584 Yellowhill Rd.
Cherokee, NC 28719
I would tell myself to wait to have sex, you didn't have to try just cause all your friends were. It's something special and shouldn't have been tooken lightly or by just any average joe. Wait on a really special guy, because he will come. You was to good to do that to yourself, you'll feel dumb because you figured it out to late...
kalie yes i had sex before but girls never get pregnant.
peechiekeen03:
I would tell myself this:
Don't be afraid to stick up for yourself, who you are, and what you believe in. People aren't really that scary, and if they make you feel like they are, then they definitely aren't worth your time. Be more confident because you actually do have what it takes. Don't worry about speaking in front of people, volunteer more, and let things go!
Stephany Livengood
Hug your Mom everyday. Finish school, it will pay off in the end. Have dreams and pursue them.
Stephany, Las Vegas, NV
Susie I would say to myself whenever I have free time take that time to meet all my old friends and family. And to go back and meet my old teachers in one of the schools closest to me. I would tell my future self to give money to charity! Also I would tell my future self to never give up and try to reach my new dreams.
megyboob: i think this is a great idea!=)
Stacy Rosenblatt Given the chance to talk to my younger self I would stress the importance of having fun, not sweating the small stuff, and how important it is to excel in school. I would tell myself to be a joiner, enjoy life now before it gets complicated, all about work, and paying bills, I would tell myself not to take myself so seriously, dance more, laugh a lot, take risks, do what your afraid of so you can grow, change, and be the best of who you are. I would tell her not to be so responsible all the time, because others can and will take care of themselves if you pull back and let them. It is ok to fail, at least you tried. I would tell her how smart she is no matter what the guidance counselor tells her, and that one day she will not only go to college, because she was smart enough, but she will be the Valedictorian of you class.
Mags I would tell myself to be myself and don't be afraid to let yourself shine. Laugh like a crazy person because it helps everything be okay. I'd tell myself to be a better person and go after my dreams. Last, I'd tell myself that I have to listen to Myheart and follow what I beleive.
rachel_kate: I would tell myself to exercise much more and eat less junk food coz im a little bit overweight. I would also say to appreciate everything and not complain about things. And to make the most of every moment. And family always comes first:) theres much more but that enough for now.
caliedoodlebug28:
If I could give my younger self advice there are many things I would advise my younger self on. First I would tell my younger self to dump my boyfriend, no matter how hard it may seem at the time because he would become abusive, and would not treat me the way that we should be treated and that we deserve so much better than that, and that being with him would not be worth the fights or the nights were I would cry myself to sleep. Second, I would tell my younger self to spend more time with my friend Alley, because she is the only good friend you actually leave high school with, and she deserves to have more attention from me. Third, I would tell myself to not let the fact that other people think you are weird get you down and to just be yourself and to just do what you want. Finally, I would tell me self that we are doing fine with our performance in high school, because we are able to get into Wilkes University for biochemistry, but to maybe learn how to study because in college we are going to need it.
bookshopaholic: Great answer!
arual34433: Save money! Trust yourself more. Don't be afraid to speak your opinion before you get angry!
Kerri Renner I would tell myself to stay in school and get the most out of youre education and to travel while youre young go to europe travel thru school get out and explore and eat healthy and exercise take care of youre body now and it will thank you when youre older
Pamela White I would write in a daily journal of all the things I do. I have found that my memory of events gets foggy as time goes by.
TheTotalBookNerd: cool:)
karadidomizio: I agree with javaalchemist...I wish I would have treated my family and friends better.