As exciting as deriving mathematical functions, conjugating French verbs, and deciphering Shakespeare's plays may be, the relationships and struggles that I experienced throughout high school were what really left a lasting impression on me. So, as a recent high school graduate, I want to share my wisdom with you...

1.) People change. I spent a lot of my senior year of high school trying to save friendships that weren't meant to be saved. It was hard to come to terms with the fact that my friends from elementary school are not the same people that they used to be. People change and develop. Just as I gain an identity, my friends were shaping their own identity.

2.) Balance is important. The stress and busyness of high school taught me that balancing my athletic, social, and academic life is important. As a member of the cross country team, I needed to put effort into my team. Meanwhile, schoolwork, studying, maintaining healthy relationships with my friends, and (God forbid) having fun were things that were important to me. Finding a way to balance these desires was key to surviving high school and to safeguarding my mental and emotional health.

3.) Hard work pays off. Fortunately, in my case, hard work reaped rewards. Earning captainship to the cross country team, receiving rewards and winning a scholarship, assured me that my hard work was well worth it. Furthermore, my hard work and effort made in high school have already made my transition to college much easier.

4.) Don't stress. Entering high school, I feared nothing more than failure. I'm ashamed to admit how many times I have shed tears over bad grades. By the end of my 4 years in high school, I have learned that the best success stories are the ones that start with failure.

5.) Sorting your priorities is essential. Friends or boyfriends? Partying or studying? Decisions, decisions, decisions. I've learned that knowing the right thing to do and the right time to do it is a skill that can be hard to learn but is important for one's mental and physical wellbeing.

6.) It's okay to be unsure As an undeclared major with no distinct passion or strength, I've clearly struggled immensely in figuring out, frankly, who I am and what I want to do with my life. I've realized that it's okay to be unsure because very rarely does anyone know exactly what they want to be, or who they want to marry, or where they will retire. Life is always throwing curveballs and its impossible to create a blueprint for your life.