If I was standing in front of my high-school self, what would I say? There are a lot of things, and here are just some of them.
1. Girls are crazy.
At least for me until high school, I didn’t realize that girls can be literally crazy when it comes to boys or anything for that matter. If I had a small warning, it would have saved me so many tears. However, the experiences I had made me wiser, and it taught me to be more cautious and really figure out if a friendship is worth pursuing or not. Snakes are everywhere.
2. Get involved!
You’ve probably already heard this a painful amount of times, but it can’t be stressed enough. Take it from me, a girl who moved to a different county going into high school. I sat alone at lunch for I don’t know how long; it wasn’t fun. I made some of my best friends by joining class council and playing field hockey. The memories that I made with those friends are something I will hold close to me forever. Get involved with any club or team, and you won’t regret it; I promise. Looking back, I wish I would’ve joined more clubs or started playing field hockey earlier.
3. That C doesn’t mean your life is over.
I think the one thing that has just been getting worse is the stress on your GPA and not what you’re actually comprehending or learning. One grade is one grade, and it is not going to follow you for the rest of your life. Also, grades may be important, but they are not what defines you. You could have a 4.0 GPA, and if the college you apply to sees you’ve done no community service or were not involved in anything, they’re not going to like that.
4. Go to football games, and don’t be scared.
My school mascot was a patriot, so our level of school spirit was insane. I loved it. When I first got to high school, I was so scared to go to football games just because of my anxiety and fear of people looking at me. I regret that I missed so many, but the ones I did go to were amazing. Our team might not have been that good, but the games we did win was like we had just won the Super Bowl. We would scream until our throats hurt, stand in the rain until the paint ran down our faces and just had fun, while we were still young and things were easy. High school football games are just one of the most important events in your high school life.
5. You’re going to get hurt by stupid boys.
This is one thing I wish I would have known or at least known that it wasn’t the end of the world. I remember sitting in my room, crying in front of my mirror because the boy I had been talking to ignored me and didn’t walk with me after class. A date to sweet frog and a kiss on the lips, you’re going to Anne Frank me? It only got worse from there with boys; they’re stupid and immature, and it will probably be awhile before they fully develop common sense. However, things get better. Believe me; when you’re least expecting it, someone amazing is going to find you. Don’t go chasing love; let it find you.
6. Make great relationships with your teachers.
It’s so awesome when you can just talk to a teacher about your problems. I remember our class council advisor was also an english teacher, and my friend group and I would sit in her room everyday for lunch to just talk and have fun. We’d even trade snacks sometimes. It’s really important to get to know your teachers and have a good reputation for them because they can teach you so many valuable things, and you can go back to them for letters of recommendation.
7. Be responsible.
This is something that I personally never had trouble with, mostly because my mother and I had a best friend/sister relationship. However, she still taught me right from wrong. Anytime I went out, I honestly just told her where I was going and asked what time I should be back. She never told me that I couldn’t go to parties or go out, and I thank her for that. I never drove when I shouldn’t have, and I always made sure that I texted her where I was and that my friends were okay. I knew how much she worried about me, and that made me feel really loved. Don’t ever think that your parents are mean. They truly just want whats best for you, and it’s all out of love.
8. You don’t need to have a date to prom.
I went to three proms single as a Pringle, and I had a great time. Even though I was so embarrassed about not having one, I went with my friends, and we just danced the night away and drank more virgin piña coladas than I can count. No one judges you if you don’t have a date, and to be honest, I am glad I missed out on awkward prom picture-taking, where your date doesn’t know where to put his hands for pictures.
9. No one is going to remember stupid rumors two weeks later, let alone years after high school.
Trust me; every week there is going to be a new rumor going around. No matter how much you think it’s never going to be about you, you could be wrong. You think that everyone is going to be talking about you for the rest of their lives, and you’re never going to get past it. Two weeks later, someone will be pregnant, and you’ll be history. Don’t let what others say about you get under your skin because most of these people will be even more irrelevant when you graduate. What matters is what you think of yourself.
10. Don’t wait too long to start thinking about college.
Until junior year came, I literally forgot college was a thing. I said to myself, “Well, I should probably apply or something.” I started to panic because I had no clue where to start. From tests to tours to open houses, it’s madness. Start taking SAT prep classes, and take it as soon as you can and as many times as you can because that is a big thing for colleges. My college actually acknowledged the growth in my SAT scores in my acceptance letter, and it made me happy that they actually put that little personal touch in there and made me feel special.
11. Don’t take those four years for granted.
The things I would give to go back to my high school days. When you’re in high school, you don’t step back and see the bigger picture and how many things are going to change and how many memories you’re going to leave behind. You only see that these AP classes are super hard, that boy doesn’t think I’m good enough and how bad you want to graduate. You’re going to miss it so much. I’d give anything to have just one more sleepover on a school night and one more day hanging out by the lockers until the bell rang, running and laughing down the hallway to class.
Those four years do go by fast, and they go by even faster when you get to college. Appreciate this life, and make as many memories as you can before the easy days are over. Immerse yourself in everything and figure out what makes you happy; these are the days you’ll remember.
