High school is truly a learning experience — and a lot of the knowledge you obtain happens outside of the classroom as much as it does inside. Since I am a recent grad, I have had time to sit and think what I would tell myself 4 years ago before starting high school and what I would've done differently.
1. Friendships come and go.
You will be really disappointed if you think that everyone you meet in high school will be in your life forever. I have made amazing friendships that I thought would last a lifetime, but I was wrong. People come into your life when you need them -- sometimes permanently, sometimes temporarily -- do not try to change that.
2. Be carefree, not careless.
Yes, worry about school, but not so much to where you cannot function. Your grades matter, yes. Your extracurriculars matter, yes. But there is more to who you are as a person than your school work/life. On the other hand, do not lose all morals or manners. You are still young and growing into who God made you to be. Do not hinder your progress by making bad decisions.
3. The ACT/SAT does not and will never define the amount of success you are capable of.
When I got my ACT scores back, I thought it was the end of the world. I did not preform as well as I hoped, and I assumed colleges would judge me solely based on that test. However, I was wrong. There is more to a person than how they test, and colleges know that. Always remember, you are more than your ACT score.
4. Your teachers care about you more than you know.
I know sometimes it seems as though teachers enjoy giving you hours of homework or do not care about your success, but that is completely false. They want you to succeed and do well. Cut them some slack.
5. High school dances are what you make them.
Some people dread homecoming and prom, while on the other hand, some look forward to it throughout the whole year. My biggest piece of advice would be to go with someone you know you will have fun with -- whether it's your friends or you ask a date. Just GO!
6. You will miss the familiarity.
As I anxiously wait to start college in a few weeks, my heart aches from missing the familiarity of my high school. Familiar faces, classrooms, halls, teachers, etc. There is comfort in familiarity, but also adventure in the unknown.
7. Every single sporting event matters... Go. To. All. Of. Them.
I would give everything to go back and sit in the student section to cheer on my high school teams. Friday night lights, hours watching volleyball, road trips to the ball field.. you name it. You make the best memories with your peers while cheering on your friends!
8. Never let a boy come between you and your friend.
Oh, honey, the boy IS NOT worth it. More than likely, he is a boy consumed in lust and does not really care who he hurts along the way. Like Brooke Davis says, "Hoes before bros!"
9. You will grow up more in these 4 years than you ever have before.
In four years, you somehow manage to grow from an awkward freshman with braces to a stressed senior picking out her major. You will grow physically, mentally, and spiritually. Sometimes the growth is hard and sometimes you get confused, but keep going. Be true to yourself and you will love who you have become on graduation day.
10. Lastly, cherish every second.
One day you will wake up and get ready to walk across the stages with your best friends -- not knowing who you will see in the future. You will never have the freedom high school offers without the adulting/responsiblities college throws at you again. LIVE IT UP.
High school truly is what you make it. Stay away from the drama, study hard, and cherish every single minute you have at the place you call home.
