"MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES FOR TEENS"
SUBMITTED BY TEENS



"Problems? What problems? I just have challenges in life that build up my character and prepare me for tomorrow."
Copyright © 2001 S. Larson



"Some people succeed because they are destined.
More people succeed because they are determined."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Susan J., Age 17 --- Washington



"Speed isn't worth the time or the pain."
Copyright © 2001 Jenn Delosier



"The best gift you can give others is yourself."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Jef C., Age 19 --- Amadeo, Cavite, Philippines



"During a stressful time: breathe in, breathe out, get on with your life."
Michelle G. --- Submitted by Shelli G., Age 13 --- Illinois



"If your mind isn't open, keep your mouth shut too."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by M.N-O., Age 15 --- Wisconsin



"The past belongs to what's done
The future belongs to what will be
So I guess when you look at it
Only the present belongs to me"
Copyright © 2001 Joshua Beebe



"How elastic our stiff prejudices grow when love once comes to bend them."
Herman Melville ( Moby Dick )
--- Submitted by S M., Age 16 --- Tennessee




"It's easy to mistake love for lust and lust for love, but the truth is if it's meant to be then, it will be. That means there shouldn't be any trouble in waiting to prove it or show it. To this day I remember something a friend once told me: Someone who truly cares and loves you will NOT want anything from you at all."
Copyright © 2001 Tio Love



"Even though we want to die inside sometimes, we just keep on moving. We have to because we live for the hope that tomorrow will be better and that tomorrow THAT something will happen; our dream will finally become reality. And that dream, small if it is, will hold us up with our heads looking to the sky for just another day."
Copyright © 2001 Nicholle Reshni



"You must show no mercy, nor any belief whatsoever in how others judge you.
Your greatness will silence them all."
Albert Einstein --- Submitted by Lisa M., Age 14 --- Massachusetts



"Remember what you have done today, what struggle you have over come makes you a better person. If you liveyour life for only one reason live it to better yourself, and soon you will better the world around you."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Megan W., Age 17 --- Illinois



"It takes practice and perseverance, but as long as I hold onto my dreams,
I know they'll become a reality."
Florence Griffith-Joyner, aka Flo-Jo
--- Submitted by Kara D., Age 15 --- Massachusetts




"Every stone is beat upon with a hammer but in time it is fixed with gold."
Copyright © 2001 Brendan Blumer and Jillian Perry



"A good friend is someone who will help you when you are down,
And if they can't, will lay down and listen."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Katie B., Age 19 --- New Jersey



"See it, Believe it.
Doubt it, Live without it."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Sarah B., Age 18 --- Ohio



"All I know is then and now. But the past is just a memory, the future's yet to come. So we must take in, accept and cherish what is here and what is now."
Lindsey B., Age 18 --- Virginia



"Don't be afraid to go after what you want to do, and what you want to be.
But don't be afraid to be willing to pay the price!"
Lane Frost --- Submitted by Kayla H., Age 17 --- South Dakota



"A sea of tears may not be tearless,
But a sea of hope may not be hopeless!"
Copyright © 2001 Ashley Smith



"Your fears are like a daisy chain;
Break one, they will all begin to fall away."
Noemi Palonen --- Submitted by Adonis B., Age 16 --- Hania, Crete



"True friends are there;
But you do not see helping,
You do not feel caring,
You do not know,
But they are loving you for you."
Nick W., Age 16 --- Victoria, Australia



"Life is like an apple. Some people get as far as looking at it; some people get as far as peeling it and somepeople get as far as to take a big old bite and get the complete and full experience."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by L.M., Age 13 --- New Hampshire



"Only God knows why everything happens. If you don't believe in God, then you will never know why stuff happens. God is our leader. He leads us through our problems and fears. He also leads us through our grateful times."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Amanda G., Age 15 --- Kansas



"Friends are like your backbone;
They are always there when you need support."
Laura G., Age 16 --- Iowa



"Life is torture until you do something about it."
Copyright © 2001 Hoi Polloi



"Racing life is like racing a plane.
Once you beat it, the sky is empty."
Copyright © 2000 Curt Jackson



"Just because you don't see shooting stars,
Doesn't mean it's not perfect."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Caleigh J., Age 14 --- Pennsylvania



"You can't be a smart cookie with a crumby attitude."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Lisa P., Age 15 --- Pennsylvania



"Life isn't about why you do things; it's about how you do things."
Copyright © 2001 Chris Marinas



"Nothing replaces effort."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Christa K., Age 15 --- Illinois



"How can a little boy from Coos Bay, OR. win races? All my life, people have told me 'you're too small pre!' 'you can't do it pre!' 'give up your foolish dreams, steve!' But they forgot something
      I HAVE TO WIN!!!"
Steve Prefontaine --- Submitted by Kali L., Age 15 --- Illinois



"Don't try to hide from yourself.
When you do that, you only deny what is right.
Be yourself or in truth you're nothing at all."
Copyright © 2001 Jameson Allyn



"Deal with the downs, but live for the ups."
Copyright © 2000 John Smith



"Everyday is another adventure through the journey of life.
Live each day to the fullest, and the story of your journey will be breathtaking."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Erin W., Age 14 --- New York



"Do you want me to tell you something really subversive? Love is everything it's cracked up to be. That's why people are so cynical about it. It really is worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for. And the trouble is, if you don't risk everything, you risk even more."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Nicole P., Age 16 --- Victoria, Australia



"As much as I want to get out of here and how I hate it sometimes, I take a moment to look around, sigh and say "Wow, I'm going to miss these times" and I remember how lovely things are."
Copyright © 2001 Lovelyn Sampayan



"Suck it up princess!"
Warren Wiebe --- Submitted by Krista C., Age 17 --- Ontario, Canada
( My basketball team uses this quote quite often throughout the year. When ever we are moping around or are not mentally into the game or you go 0-13 from the foul line in one game at the provincial championships a good "Suck it up princess" will fix it. )



"We all want to fall in love. Why? Because that experience makes us feel completely alive. Where every sense is heightened, every emotion is magnified, our everyday reality is shattered and we are flying into the heavens. It may only last a moment, and hour, an afternoon. But that doesn't diminish its value because we are left with memories that we treasure for the rest of our lives."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Laura S. --- Ohio



"If you want to be a singer, open up your mouth and sing! A record deal or a management company isn't needed for the title of a "singer." So, if you sing, congrats! You're a singer! Now let the world hear you!"
Linzi T., Age 17 --- Michigan



"Miracles do happen, but one needs to work hard to make them happen."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Nachiket K., Age 16 --- Maharashtra, India



"Pain; whether it be emotional, physical, or mental produces character.
Character is the cornerstone of success.
You cannot have one without the other."
Copyright © 2001 Kyle Hamrah



"If we weren't so afraid to let go,
We wouldn't feel so free when we finally did."
Dawson's Creek --- Submitted by Kara D., Age 15 --- Massachusetts



"People are like peanuts...it's what's inside that counts."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by L.S., Age 17 --- California



"Being powerful is like being a lady.
If you have to tell people you are, you aren't."
Margaret Thatcher --- Submitted by Emma S., Age 16 --- Qld, Australia



"The cement of hard work lines the bricks of success
Which build the road to our dreams."
Copyright © 2001 Nick Birchak



"Love and care for a child today, receive a better world tomorrow."
Copyright © 1999 Andrew B. Krebbs



"There is more to life than numerical success."
Copyright © 2000 Katie Elder



"You have a memory of my character, a piece of my personality,
But my life remains a mystery."
Copyright © 2001 Karen Medina



"You cannot stumble while you are on your knees."
T.S. --- Submitted by Lacey R., Age 17 --- New Jersey



"You never really know how dark it is, until you turn on the light."
Lacey W., Age 13 --- Ohio



"There are no such things as mistakes
If you believe that everything in life happens for a reason."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Sharon R., Age 16 --- Florida



"When there is a fork in the road, step on the accelerator."
Pat Riley --- Submitted by Drew H., Age 14 --- Iowa



"One of the worst things in life is the realization that someone is not as great as you once thought they were.One of the best things is the realization that you can accept that and continue to love them."
Heather K., Age 16 --- Pennsylvania



"Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt."
Special Olympics Oath --- Submitted by Lindsey B., Age 18 --- Virginia



"Life is full of momentous ups and catastrophic downs,
But it is right in the middle, right where the road is smooth and straight
This is where you find your true self."
Copyright © 1999 Vickie Winterhalter



"You can walk with the pack when things are easy,
But as things get hard and the pack starts to turn around and go back,
Make that all the more reason to keep going."
Copyright © 2001 Sarah Normile



"A heart truly in love never loses hope but always believes."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Gordon K., Age 18 --- Ontario, Canada



"This is the way you make a discovery.
You get to a point where you need to get something done
And it's not getting done, so you have to find a way to get it done."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Jordan H., Age 15 --- Texas



"Never forget what you need to remember
But forget all things which aren't worth remembering."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Athena L., Age 16 --- Ontario, Canada



"Boredom is not a state of mind,
But it is a state of NOT using your mind."
Nancy Hunter Denney --- Submitted by Shelley M., Age 18 --- Alabama



AS YOU GO THROUGH LIFE ALWAYS REMEMBER THESE THINGS

At least 5 people in this world, love you so much they would die for you.

At least 15 people in this world love you, in some way.

The only reason anyone would ever hate you, is because they want to be just like you. No kidding! I know some of those people.

A smile from you, can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.

Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.

You mean the world to someone.

Without you, someone may not be living.

You are special and unique, in your own way.

Someone that you don't know even exists, loves you.

When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good comes from it.

When you think the world has turned it's back on you, take a look, you most likely turned your back on the world.

When you think you have no chance at getting what you want, you probably won't get it, but if you believe in yourself, you probably sooner or later will get it.

Always remember compliments you received, forget about the rude remarks.

Always tell someone how you feel about them, you will feel much better when they know.

If you have a great friend, take the time to let them know that they are great.
Author Unknown
--- Submitted by Narissa G., Age 14 --- British Columbia, Canada




MY MASTERPIECE

Our names scribbled on pictures
Some nurture all resources -
Given paint, can be striking on canvas.
What we compose, unlocks markings for all to see.

I attempt a river; soft gentle flow,
Give warrant for doves to calmly sing.
I avoid black clouds, and gloomy faces,
Forever enhancing bright pierces of the sun.

Glittering stars watch us all day long,
Golden ladders for all to climb;
Sweet laughter, grabbing every molecule we see,
Spirits dare to dance to orchestras of all beats.

A penciled God smiles down on us,
Unities of voices harmonize where light can't fall.
Mountains, thick beds of forest, cradle all its men,
Animals graze in meadows; acknowledged, contented and free.

When I ignore the brightness of the Sun,
Forget the beauty of breaking dawn,
Allow others to tear it to shreds,
Draw attention to the splat I made on the bee.

I lose hold of the inspiration, the magic, and the dreams.
Great expressionists don't allow them to disregard what eyes see,
They reproduce their fears and their joys,
The canvas is what you want it to be.
Copyright © 2001 Alice McIlveen



"If someone doesn't treat you right, or hold you tight, or keep promises, and breaks your heart, just believe that they did not deserve you anyway. There will be more people who come into your life and make you special so don't obsess about the one who walked out, and don't close your eyes. Because if you close them, you might miss the "one" who might have made everything right."
Copyright © 2001 Hana Burney



"Everything has an effect on us,
But we can't blame anything for what we have become."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Valonia O., Age 19 --- Anatolia, Turkey



"Sometimes it seems like we're all in a prison and the crime is how much we hate ourselves. It's good to get dressed up once in a while, and admit the truth: That when you really look closely, people are so strange and so complicated that they're actually beautiful
      possibly even me."
From 'My So-Called Life' --- Submitted by Leah H., Age 16 --- New Jersey



"When you wish upon a star,
Not all that you wish for may come true,
But you can keep hoping that someday it will!"
K.J., Age 16 --- New York



"You cannot get anywhere in life without a little help."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Tony V., Age 16 --- Missouri



"Basketball is like life. But it's more. It's what life could be.
It's more than just a game. It's a glimpse of heaven on earth."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by P.H., Age 16 --- Florida



"We are all dying. While we are eating,sleeping, or doing anything. So while you are dying, take time to stop and live a little. After all, tomorrow may never come, and all those things that seemed to be so terribly important will dim in comparison to the things that were really important to begin with."
Copyright © 2001 Kate Ison



"There is no "I" in team, but there is one in win."
Copyright © 2000 Rebecca Butler



"As you have come into existence, leave some mark behind - else what is the difference between you and the stones and the trees? They too come into existence, decay and die."
Swami Vivekananda --- Submitted by Arvind S., Age 15 --- Tamil Nadu, India



"For every six seconds of fear or sadness, you've lost one minute of happiness. All though..... in each minute of true happiness, you gain hope and a feeling of balance for present and future."
S.D., Age 15 --- Wisconsin