3. Say Thank You and Other Nice Things

Handwritten notes are treasures. A thoughtful teenager will learn how to dash off a note of substance that is both gracious and charming. A phone call, a typewritten letter, a text message, or an e-mail are also great methods of thanking people, but none of them carries the weight and the personal touch of the handwritten note. Here are some ideas about thoughtful thank-you notes:

A thank-you note should mention the gift or service specifically and include a sentence or two about how that gift or service is valuable to you.

Dear Aunt Alice,

Thank you for the book about sea creatures that you sent for my birthday. This book will be great for a report I'm working on for school. I'll think of you every time I read the book.

Love, Darrin

When someone does you a favor, however small, you should thank them. You will gain a reputation of being well-mannered, because you are.

Consider thanking someone you don't even know for a speech you heard, a fireside they organized, or a book they wrote.

Write a note of congratulations on a promotion, an achievement, or reaching a milestone.

Learn to accept compliments by smiling and saying thank you.

Learn to say "You're welcome."

Your friends and neighbors will be so amazed at your newfound skills that they will start watching you to learn how something is done well. You'll be welcome at gatherings of every kind. So try it!