TeenAmy Poehler

Amy Poehler Quotes: The Actress' Best Life Advice For Teens

10 Quotes From Amy Poehler That Will Get You Through High School
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Fact: Amy Poehler is one cool cat. Not only is the actress of "Parks and Rec" fame hilarious, she also gives the best advice. (For proof, check out her awesome Smart Girls series videos.) From dealing with school stress to your love woes, Amy knows exactly what to say to help you feel better about your miserable-yet-magical high school experience. See below for our 10 of our favorite pieces of life advice from Amy.

1. It's OK to be scared of love.
"Vulnerable people are powerful people. Opening your heart and sharing it means you're going to get so much love in your life."

2. It's perfectly normal to want a quiet moment.
"We're so bombarded with noise and activity and headphones and gossip and jackhammers... it's hard to get quiet and to quiet our minds, so you wanting that is totally natural."

3. When it comes to school, just do your best.
"If you can sleep, breathe, work hard, wish for the best and do everything you can to prepare, I bet you'll do well -- as well as you can. And that's all anybody can ask for."

4. You don't need makeup to feel beautiful.
"Guys like girls who don't wear a lot of makeup. You have your whole life to have to wear a lot of makeup."

5. Don't be afraid to take a risk.
"Don't start a scene where two people are talking about jumping out of a plane. Start the scene having already jumped. If you are scared, look into your partner's eyes. You will feel better."

6. Caring is cool.
"Girls have to fight against a lot of the same stuff we did growing up... peer pressure, exploitation, etc. But what worries me the most is this trend that caring about something isn't cool. That it's better to comment on something than to commit to it. That it's so much cooler to be unmotivated and indifferent."

7. Change is inevitable.
"You have to remember that goodbyes are temporary because no one ever really leaves and nothing lasts forever. People are always with us, because they are in our hearts and in our memory. The only thing we can depend on is change... Life is just a series of moments -- a string of pearls that make up the necklace of your life and so every once in a while, to complete the circle, you need to end a chapter."

8. Speaking of which, you're allowed to change your mind.
"We don't want to be afraid to make a choice because we're afraid to make a mistake because most decisions aren't final. Feelings change all the time. You can always change your mind and taking risks and making choices is what makes life so exciting because we never know what's going to happen. Every day something new comes our way."

9. Sometimes, you just gotta let go.
"The way to get guys to notice you is to stop trying -- to let go of the idea of trying. You don't have to let go of what you want or let go of the things you want to have, but this feeling of trying, this feeling of 'What can I do to change myself to get people to notice me?' is kind of a tough one because you start to get obsessed with the external."

10. Putting yourself out there isn't easy, but it's worth it.
"Great people do things before they’re ready. They do things before they know they can do it... Doing what you're afraid of, getting out of your comfort zone, taking risks like that -- that is what life is. You might be really good. You might find out something about yourself that's really special and if you're not good, who cares? You tried something. Now you know something about yourself."

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Before You Go

How To Keep Graduation Stress-Free
Come Prepared(01 of05)
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Making sure you have all your ducks in a row on the morning of graduation day can help make the whole process easier. Plan ahead so that you arrive early -- with your phone fully charged, wearing comfortable shoes -- and choose a meeting spot where you'll be able to find your family later. If you go to a large public school, these things are especially important -- you don't want to spend the first hour of your life as a high school graduate with a dying battery, trying to track down your parents.
Dress Appropriately (02 of05)
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Since you'll be wearing a cap and gown, you may not give much thought to your graduation day attire. But wearing something comfortable and appropriate that doesn't require you to go home and change before dinner or evening festivities can save time and energy. And bear in mind that many graduation gowns are made of stuffy polyester, so if it's going to be hot out, you'll want to wear something as light and breathable as possible underneath. Check out these 20 affordable graduation dresses from Teen Vogue for inspiration. (credit:Alamy)
Don't Let Your Family Stress You Out (03 of05)
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Having a small or unconventional family can be a big source of graduation stress. It might seem like everyone has their parents, siblings and extended family there to cheer them on, and maybe you have just your mom, or parents who are sitting 10 rows apart from each other. But the important thing is that you show up for yourself -- and the people who support you will be there to cheer you on. Associate Teen Editor Taylor Trudon wrote in a HuffPost Divorce blog that although she was dreading her graduation day, her commencement was actually the first day that she truly accepted her modern family. "In my post-grad photos," she writes, "There are no pictures of a cookie-cutter family standing against perfect brick walls and ivy that you would find in a store picture frame, but a different kind of family. Mine. And that was okay." (credit:Shutterstock)
Remember To Pat Yourself On The Back(04 of05)
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If nothing else, graduation is a time to reflect on the things you've accomplished and the person you've become over the past four years -- and also on the things you'd like to change in the future. You should be proud of all your achievements, both in and out of the classroom. Try not to stress about any missed opportunities or regrets: you've done a lot, so take a moment to congratulate yourself! (credit:Alamy)
Let Go Of The Future & Enjoy The Moment(05 of05)
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Graduation can be an almost surreal experience: It's a huge event that signifies a movement from the past to the future. But do yourself a favor and try not to spend the whole day being worried about the future. Moving on to a new phase in your life can trigger feelings of uncertainty that takes the form of a number of anxieties, from financial worries to fear over making new friends and starting new relationships, to doubts about your future career path. It's OK to feel doubts about your future -- just don't let it rob your enjoyment of the moment, which could be one of the most memorable of your life. (credit:Shutterstock)
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