Blistering Acne and Embracing Difference: Benjamin Law Writes to His 16YO Self (For a Good Cause)

Certified adults, like Benjamin Law, discuss the trials and tribulations of being 16.

Once you survive the terror years that are 14 to 17, you seldom want to revisit them (unless you had a great ride, in which case, gold star for you).

But, for the sake of Mardi Gras and LGBTQIA+ charity Minus18, The Family Law's creator, Benjamin Law and other writers braved the emotional onslaught to craft some letters to their younger selves.

They're hilarious and brutal but they also give some pretty great advice about acne, not to mention understanding yourself better during that confusing time.

"First up: you need to do something about that acne," Benjamin Law writes.

"Soon, your entire face is going to resemble a giant, angry blister, and it's going to stay that way for several years.

"You're already considering that hardcore medication that'll actually induce nosebleeds as a side effect.

"It's brutal, you're scared, but trust me: it'll work. Get onto it."

But blistering acne aside, Law admits to his younger self there were some important lessons to be learnt from this era.

"Know that your differences—being Asian, being gay—will be your assets when you're an adult," Law continues.

"You'll grow up to be a full-time writer and storyteller—yes, even though you desperately want to be an actor on a soap opera (IT’S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN, BABES)—and what stories require is originality.

"Having an inbuilt different perspective means you have an advantage."

Grab your Mardi Gras-themed stationery from Papier here with 100 per cent of the proceeds going to Minus18. I mean, aside from being cute as hell, it's for charity.

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Header Image: Images supplied by Benjamin Law