Pic: Girlfriend. Cupcake courtesy of mylittlecupcake.com.au

Think back to the person you were 12 months ago. We bet you the entire Gossip Girl box set that you were different in ways you can only see now that time has passed. Now think about the person you were five years ago – a lot has changed, right? Thinking about the people we used to be, and what we wish we’d known when we were younger, inspired this article. We hope you read it and learn from our – and Miranda Kerr’s – mistakes. (Sidebar: Miranda – and everyone else on this list – has turned out OK, so perhaps the biggest lesson you can learn from this article is that you need to trip up before you start running your own race).

1. “I wish I could tell my 18-year-old self that everything works out if you work hard and enjoy what is going on around you. There is little point trying to look into your future at 18, because – while it might sound silly – your future hasn’t happened yet. The less you stress about what is to come, the more energy and time you have to enjoy the present and find what it is you are really good at and what you love.” Emma Freedman, now 23, Nine’s Weekend Today weather presenter and David Jones racewear ambassador

2. “I wish I knew that all the most important things I needed to be successful actually already existed inside me!” Ellyse Perry, now 21, Australian cricketer and soccer player

Miranda Kerr @ the 2012 Golden Globes. Pic: Getty

3. “I wish I knew at 18 just how amazing life is when you learn to love and accept yourself just the way you are. My life started when I stopped listening to everyone else and set my own rules.” Miranda Kerr, now 28, model, author of Treasure Yourself, and founder of KORA Organics

4. “Be kind and forgive yourself for the bad decisions you make along the way; you’re only human. But when you do know what you want in life, work hard, because you alone will make your dreams a reality. And P.S., little Jess… nerdy, shy girls get the boys in the end.” Jessica Tovey, now 24, actress

5. “Stay true to who you really are. It’s so easy to be influenced by others and lose sight of what you really want. Also, your parents are not out to get you! They are there to help you make the right decisions, so listen to their advice.” Romy Poulier, now 23, Terra Nova actress

6. “Enjoy being 18… don’t try [to] grow up too quickly. You’ve got 60-odd years to be an adult. Chill. Out.” Cariba Heine, now 23, actress (you can see her next in Bait)

7. “Pay attention to the people who matter to you, and spend time with them while you can. We don’t know how long we’re going to be around, so every day should be seen as a gift. Most importantly, be good to yourself: be honest and kind to yourself. If you can achieve that, you can achieve anything.” Jane Gazzo, now 34, Channel [V] presenter

8. “It’s not always such a bad thing to go with your gut feeling, rather than what your head or teacher tells you to do! When I was 18, people told me to have a back-up plan in case I didn’t get a full-time job in entertainment. I give myself credit for going with my intuition. As clichéd as it sounds, follow your heart.” Carissa Walford, now 23, Channel [V] presenter

Stephanie Rice, 2011 World Swimming Championships. Pic: Getty

9. “I was 18 when I first broke the world records in the 200- and 400-metre individual medley events. A few months later, I won three gold medals at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, and I’ve grown up a lot since then. I wish I could tell myself to remember the people who helped me achieve my goals, rather than the people who were only there in times of glory.” Stephanie Rice, now 23, swimmer

10. “I wish I could tell myself to be more comfortable in my skin. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become more confident in my own abilities, and I’ve learnt not to worry about the little things. The most important things in life are that you are happy and healthy – and to surround yourself with people who make you feel good about who you are.” Casey Dellacqua, now 26, tennis player

11. “At 18, there’s a lot of pressure to know what you want to do with the rest of your life – but I wish I knew that you don’t have to know. I’ve met a lot of creative, interesting and intelligent adults who still don’t know what they want to do and are still finding their way.” Indiana Evans, now 21, Crownies actress

INSPIRATION GALLERY: POST-IT NOTES TO LIVE BY

12. “I wouldn’t have wasted so much time (and concealer) trying to cover up beauty marks and freckles. It took me another seven years to figure out they’re actually pretty cool and make me unique.” Lauren Carter, now 25, Girlfriend’s beauty editor

13. “Your first boyfriend won’t be – and definitely shouldn’t be – your last.” Lauren Smelcher Sams, now 26, Girlfriend’s deputy editor

14. “You know all that free time you have on your hands? Use it to exercise instead of eating copious amounts of cheeseburgers – you’ll wish you’d gotten healthy five years earlier when you see the results of all your hard work.” Stacey Burn, now 29, Girlfriend’s deputy art director

15. “Being popular doesn’t mean you’re all that. People who work hard and are nice to people are the ones who really succeed. School is just the beginning.” Sarah Sheridan, now 22, Girlfriend’s editorial co-ordinator

16. “Relax and enjoy being young. Oh, and the filling in Cadbury Creme Eggs WILL change, so stock up while you can.” Sybella Thompson, now 25, Girlfriend’s picture editor

17. “Mums are generally right about everything – especially when telling you what they think about the boys you date and which friends you should steer clear of.” Sarah Friggieri, now 22, Girlfriend’s senior sub-editor

18. “Even when the unimaginable happens, you’ll always get through. You’re way stronger than you think. Also, your nose is just fine, you won’t grow any taller, and you should totally embrace your craziness, coz that’s precisely why someone will love you – as is – some day. Oh, and it will still take you another 11 years to get that driver’s licence. Oops.” Sarah Tarca, now 30, editor of Girlfriend

Compiled by Lauren Smelcher Sams