Guy Sebastian is a singer–songwriter and the first winner of Australian Idol. Guy was born in Malaysia in 1981 and moved with his family to Australia at the age of six. Over the course of his career, Guy has received 22 ARIA Award Nominations and has been part of The X Factor’s judging panel.

Dear Little Guy,

I realise that at your age you believe that you know everything about everything, but please believe me, you have a lot to learn. Firstly, and most importantly, this letter is not about asking you to change. Yes, your actions and attitudes are what define the outcomes of your life, however it’s not about getting it all ‘right’. You’re going to make mistakes. Get over that. It’s okay. Mistakes are the only way to learn.

Sometimes people will let you down. Sometimes you will let yourself down. Sometimes things won’t go your way. Sometimes your heart will get broken. Here’s the big one … Sometimes, actually often, your trust will be broken and people will take advantage of you. HOWEVER, don’t ever let this change you. Don’t let the negative things in your life shape your behavioural patterns and the way you interact with people. Remain trusting, loving and positive because there are people who love you and believe in you. If you let the bad experiences close you up, you won’t be able to receive these things from the positive people.

All that time you’re spending on music, keep doing it. People will tell you it’s not a possibility, that you don’t have the right ‘look’, that you’re not good enough etc. They don’t have a crystal ball.

University might seem like a hindrance from the dream; however, your degree will lead you to work with people much less fortunate than you and this will teach you invaluable lessons about appreciation.

With success comes temptation. Situations will present themselves that can alter the course of your life forever. Have some foresight and choose wisely. Try to discern the difference between what is fleeting and what is eternal. The latter will soothe your heart, the former only your physical needs. In other words, hold on to what matters with a tightly clenched fist.

Lastly, always put love first. Don’t lose your love for people. It will be easy to at times. There are always multiple sides to every situation. Try to understand perspectives other than your own, because you are hard-headed and will often be wrong.

Guy

PS. Don’t steal those lollies because Paul dared you to. You will get banned for life from Foodland.