Credit: Fugees

Lauryn Hill experienced intense fame at a young age. By the time she was 23, she had already released the critically acclaimed Fugees album The Score, as well as her debut solo album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. It’s an age where people are truly discovering themselves, and Hill had to manage it all in the spotlight.

Going through the highs and lows of life offers clarity, knowing how to better manage situations in order to protect oneself. Hill, now 50, has lived long enough to know exactly what to say to herself of 25-plus years ago. Whether it’s keeping loved ones around or knowing when people having bad intentions, she’s learned a lot.

“I’d share the things I do now with my 22-year-old self,” she told Rolling Stone. “If I had known what I know now, things would probably have unfolded differently. I would have continued to invest in people but I would have made sure I had people with the love, strength, and integrity around me to really keep their eye on the prize and my well-being.”

She added, “The world is full of seduction and if they can’t seduce you, they go after the people you love or depend on in some way. I would have with greater understanding tried to do more to insulate myself and my loved ones from that kind of attack.”

Like everyone, Hill has gone through the best and worst of times during her five decades on earth. Instead of regretting decisions she’s made throughout her life, she likes to see them as lessons and a way to grow as a human being. Still, there are a few things she would have changed, like how she dealt with being a celebrity and the pressure that comes with it.

“I have some periods of woe, some periods of sorrow and great pain, yes, but regret is tough because I ended up with a clarity I might not have been able to achieve any other way,” she explained. “I would have done a few things differently though if I could go back.”

With six children, she now knows the importance of protecting them. “I would have done my best to shield myself so that I could better shield my children,” she said. “I would have rejected the manipulation, unfair force and pressure put on me much earlier. I would have benefited from having more awareness about the dangers of fame.”

Hill hasn’t released an album since her 2003 debut, but is still a prominent figure – a testament to the quality of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. The project debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart with 422,624 copies sold in its first week. In turn, the album broke the record for the largest first-week sales for an album recorded by a woman.

She may have some advice for her younger self, but with the musical quality Hill possessed at such a young age, it would be impossible to give any pointers in terms of her songs. They’ve stood the test of time and continue to inspire new generations of hip-hop artists.