As I enter my senior year of high school, I can't help but look back at where I was when my journey here began. Three years ago I was standing in these hallways as a scared little freshman. I was worried I wouldn't be able to find my classes or someone to sit with at lunch. I was nervous for hard classes or bad teachers. One thing I did not expect to learn, however, was the most important lessons that are taught are not the ones in the textbooks, but rather, the ones you learn outside the classroom.

1. You won’t always find the Romeo to your Juliet (or vice versa).

Not every boy is going to treat you with complete respect and kindness. Not every girl is going to be sweet and caring to you. High school is a time of maturing for everyone. Don't be worried if you can't find the perfect boyfriend or girlfriend in high school. Your time should be spent on growing and strengthening the relationships you have with your friends. If you feel ready for a relationship, then go for it, but don't force yourself into one because you feel pressured or left out.

2. Teachers are not the enemy, but not all your teachers will be your best friend.

Some teachers will give you homework every night that will sometimes even bring you to tears. But trust me, tears are better when you’re doing homework than in the middle of an AP test. Remember: your teachers don’t hate you! They want to help you succeed, so they’re going to push you past your comfort zone. So don’t push your teachers away; allow them to make you the best you.

3. Put yourself first.

Once you get to high school, you will learn that time management is no longer optional — it's necessary. After all, there are only 24 hours, 1,440 minutes, and 86,400 seconds in a day. Somewhere in there, you need you time. So go ahead and take that bubble bath. You want to watch that Netflix show? Go right ahead. Tired? Take that after-school nap. Be productive, but reward yourself, because you deserve it.

4. That girl you thought you were gonna be Best Friends For Life And Future with, you may not even talk to by senior year.

Throughout high school, you don’t only grow physically, but also mentally and emotionally. Just because you don’t grow the same as your old friends, doesn’t mean you won’t make new ones. It’s OK if you guys grow distance between you. Just don’t forget it’s OK for you to branch out too. It’s OK to grow and change yourself for the better, even if it means losing friends.

5. Wear what you want in high school.

Feel free to express yourself through your wardrobe. Wear what you feel comfortable in. If you want to wear Crocs because that's your style, don't let anyone stop you. Don't be afraid to go all out on spirit days, whether that's wearing your class color from head to toe or dressing up as a tornado, spinning around rapidly in the hall on Extreme Weather Day. Don’t let people stop you from wearing what you want.

6. School is important, but so are the days where you just watch Netflix with friends and talk trash about boys.

Yes, it's okay to have that all night cram sesh, but also have that night where you go see your favorite band in concert. Go see that new movie that just came out in theaters. Take a drive downtown. Snow days aren’t always just for catching up on school, they’re for catching up on sleep, too. You won't be able to do your best work if you're always stressed out anyways. Do what you need to do, but keep your happiness a priority.

7. Put yourself out there.

Want to join Spanish club but you've never taken a language before in your life? Check out the meeting. Even if you have just a little bit of interest in track, go to tryouts anyway. Join any and all clubs you want. Attend the football, soccer, volleyball, hockey, and basketball games and any other sports events because showing school spirit never goes out of style.

8. These are some of the people that are going to be on the top of your hit list: parents.

They’re going to demand good grades constantly. They're going to be on top of you to do your homework and to study hard because "good grades get you into good colleges." Parents know you the best, so they also know how to annoy you the most. But they also know how to help you when you're struggling, especially with school. They know just how to plan your busy schedule so you get everything you need to get done.

9. People change — for better or for worse.

“I’m always here for you” is a term you’ll hear from a lot of people, but when times get tough, only a few truly will be. They will have the capability to smile in your face while talking about you behind your back and spreading rumors and lies to other people when your head is turned. So be careful with whom you make your first high school friends. You don't want to surround yourself with toxic people for the next four years.

10. GPA, ACT, and SAT. These are all numbers, but so is the number of times you ask the teacher to go to the bathroom and they say, “Is it an emergency?” None of these numbers define you.

School is supposed to help you grow as an individual. Your passions such as art, sports, or anything else you set your mind to help build up a definition of who you are. So don’t consume yourself in getting a 36 on the ACT or getting a 4.0 because at the end of the day, no matter what those numbers are, you’ll end up where you need to be. High school won’t be easy. It’ll break you down when you feel like you have nothing left, but keep on pushing through. Because in the long run, this is just the beginning.