Tell us all about the person you were when you were sixteen. If you haven’t yet hit sixteen yet, tell us about the person you want to be at sixteen.

I guess I was a fairly pretty girl, excited because I just had started Journalism at the University. I was making new friends, learning new things. I was crazy about music, sports and writing poetry. I wasn’t too popular because I was shy, but I was full of energy and optimism. Life was wonderful.

In order to pay my tuition I had found a job as a music teacher for some little kids and as a telephonist in a residence. I did what I could. The kids drove me crazy and with the phones I sometimes made embarrassing mistakes. But I survived and I kept the jobs and earned the money I needed.

Somehow I found free time to rehearse and sing in a chamber choir specialised in renaissance music, and even to practice and play basketball. Our team ended second in the University championship.

I’ve read now the list of things I did that year and I can’t believe it, but it’s absolutely true. I guess when you’re young and healthy, time is so elastic as your body and when you grow older, time becomes more rigid as your arms and legs do.

I’m sure I did a lot of stupid things but after so many years I only remember all the fun.

Only Sixteen | The Daily Post.