You're basically an adult. It's almost the end of "the best years of your life." But was it really?
You were all hyped up in middle school. Expecting to go on dates, go on adventures, and make memories. "It's not middle school anymore, you're almost an adult," they told you. "Get yourself out there, just be yourself!" They said, expecting you to suddenly unfold into confidence like a little preteen butterfly. But nobody told you about the harsh reality that was about to come flying at your face.
It's freshman year. You spend hours getting ready in the morning, trying to prove to the upperclassmen that you aren't a little kid anymore. You have a giant clique of friends who will be with you forever. A month before, you went to the store with your parents and got every single item on your school supplies list, right down to the pack of number 2 pencils. You walk in on the first day of high school, backpack slung over one shoulder (because that was what cool people do) ready to take on the year. You're like a new baby bird, just learning how to fly. But that baby bird was just thrown into a cage with hungry, feral dogs.
Nobody warned you about what to expect. Parents just assume high school is a wonderful place filled with friendship and sunshine. Parents are oblivious to the raging wildfire of gossip, started by jealous high school girls. "Oh it's just drama, typical highschool," they say, shaking their head, brushing it off. The stress of trying to hold up your grades, friendships, and activities is insignificant to them. "Just wait until you get into the real world." Upperclassmen boys prowl on freshman girls, like blood thirsty lions. Taking advantage of their innocence, and desperation to feel older. That boy that's blowing up your phone at nine at night? I can guarantee he doesn't just want to "watch movies and hangout." Any problem you have gets pushed aside and downplayed. It's just high school. You won't even remember it in ten years. Just wait until you experience real life. Right?
Wrong. What, am I playing a video game? No. High school is life. And it is stressful. Sure, we may not be balancing bills and trying to buy a house, but we're still learning. High school is all we know, and just because our problems may seem small to you, they're really real to us. Yes, I am aware I can't redo things when I get a real job. Yes, I am aware the drama will not matter when I go to college. But its happening now. You don't tell people they can't be happy because other people have it better, so why tell them they can't be stressed because when they're adults they have it worse? The whole point of High school is to prepare us for adulthood, and teach us.
By my senior year, I learned a few things: all those friends you have going into high school? By your fourth year, you may still talk to one or two, if you even stayed in that friend group. That boy you think you love? Be patient. If he tries sticking his hand in your pants on the first date, you leave, because odds are he isn't interested in getting to know you. That drama you're getting into? Stop. Ignore it. You do what makes you happy, and if anyone had a problem with it, they aren't significant enough to be a part of your life anyway. Spending hours getting ready in the morning to impress people? Don't. If you do something, you do it for you. Throw your hair up in a messy bun. Show up without makeup. The earth won't stop on it's axis if you wear sweatpants for a day. Nobody can really prepare you for high school. Make mistakes. Learn your own lessons. Because High school is part of life, and you only have one shot.
