Going from high school to college is a big deal for different people in different ways. It's an adjustment and can really be an eye opener for how much high school taught you, but not necessarily in AP classes.
- Grades matter and don't matter. Don't put off everything and don't not try because your grades are an important part of school, but they're not the end-all, be-all. You are not defined by a number.
- There will hopefully be a point when you realize that you don't care what others think of you, and this is the best point that you'll be at. It's when you completely forget about all the things that used to stress you out because you're just doing you. The hardest parts of high school come before this, when you're still worrying about how you're viewed and what group you fit into. Just do you.
- Get rid of the notion that your best friends have to be in the same class, go to the same school, or be the same gender as you. I had some close girl friends in my class at my school, but some of my closest friends were those younger than me, my guy friends, or people at a different school. It's sometimes hard to feel like you're missing out if you don't have a whole squad of girls exactly like you in your grade, but don't ever limit yourself to that.
- When you graduate, you won't care what your reputation was in high school, but rather, the relationships you fostered and continue to care about afterward.
- Get along with your parents and work on that relationship now. Don't push their rules or their limits—they truly care about you, and this is the last time you're going to live at home, so why ruin something like that now? I don't know what I would do if I had gone to college not on good terms with my parents. There's a growing point of moving out where you realize that yes, your parents are your parents, but they're no longer taking care of you every day and night, so you become more on the same level and it's less about enforcing rules.
- Yes, college is different and you have the chance to go to college where no one knows you, but you're still the same person in college. Don't think that all the bad things from high school will go away and wish that away. Work on yourself and realizing who you are in high school so that you're more confident in college. As cool as it sounds, it's really hard and confusing to try to "reinvent" yourself when you're just the same person. Stick with who you are and learn to enjoy life no matter the circumstances, just enjoying it who you are.
- You will get into college and you will be happy with it. It may not be your first choice, but again, it's all about making what you want of it. Don't sweat college decisions—work hard and do what you can, but know that it does all work out in the end.
- Find out what you're passionate about and what you really love. Set yourself apart and continue with what you love, whether that be reading or cooking or running or collecting stamps. Find what you love so that you can stick to that comfort when you're out of your comfort zone. Your surroundings will change and so will the people around you, but remember what you're passionate about. Those won't change.
- Don't confuse hard work with busying yourself with too much to do. You can't wear yourself thin because then you'll only be doing it halfway.
- Step out of your comfort zone while you're still at home. Challenge yourself to hang out with different people and go to the sporting events and join different clubs because that's all college is, and if you can't learn to be comfortable with yourself in new situations, it's much harder.
- Relationships don't define you. They may complement you and bring you more happiness, but they will never change you unless you let them. Work on yourself before even attempting to work on relationships.
- Love yourself and your body and every part of it, and don't let anyone put you down because of it. You only have one body, and you have to learn to be happy with everything it can do.
- Try to learn and absorb as much as you possibly can while you're still at home.
- Tell everyone you love just that. There's nothing wrong with making sure people know you appreciate them and like having them in your life.
With one year of college finished, how many more little life things can be squeezed in?
