A Few Things I'd Like To Tell My High School Self
Start writing a post
Student Life

A Few Things I'd Like To Tell My High School Self

Because in these last couple months I've learned a lot of things I wish I'd known when I was you.

15
A Few Things I'd Like To Tell My High School Self
Imgmob

Dear High School Me,

It feels weird writing a letter to you when I was you only a few short months ago. College seemed like a lifetime away at the beginning of senior year in high school, but now as the end of freshman year is nearing I can see just how much I have changed and grown in less than a year. If I listed all the things I've learned since moving to college, we'd have a letter to span the continent and back; so let me just stick to a select few.

1. You spent so much time in high school caring way too much about what everyone in your life thought of you.

Walking the straight line of what everyone else told you to do, who they wanted you to be, and you never took enough time for yourself. You spent so much time taking care of others that you often forgot to have fun. Now is the time to do just that. Staying up until 4 a.m. talking with friends is OK once in awhile (even if you do have a class in the morning). Trying new things is an adventure. Do the things that make you happy. Life is an adventure, and you only get one; so live it!

2. Needing people is OK. Not needing people is also OK. You don't need a huge group of friends to define yourself.

How important it is to love myself is probably the biggest thing I have learned since moving away from home. Sure...going out on a Friday night with friends is awesome. Sometimes everyone needs to get out of their heads for a bit, but learning to take time to just be alone with yourself is awesome too. Maybe reading a book or writing in a journal on a bench outside, or having a night in the dorm with a rented movie and a pint of ice cream. Loving others and having friends in your corner is what gets your through life. But loving yourself is what gets you through each and every day.

3. Don't judge a book by it's cover.

Don't keep yourself locked in a box of what you think the people in your life should look like. Odds are, the greatest people and the best friends you will ever know, will be the people you never thought you would ever get along with; let alone come to love when you first met.

4. Failure. Will. Happen.

I know you love things just perfect, and when things aren't you fear that you might loose it. But do you know what? That's not how life works. Nothing is ever going to go according to plan. In fact, be prepared to throw all your plans out the window. Life has a funny way of flipping you on your head and leaving you dazed and confused and not sure which way is up. You're going to fail a biology test. You're going to forget that paper was due. Your'e going to be late to class or let a friend down. You just will. But, when those thing happen, all you can do is keep your head up and keep pushing. Cause tomorrow will be better and brighter, and that next thing to throw you for a loop is on its way. Be ready for it.

And finally...

5. You will fail. You will falter. You will mess up. Just stop apologizing

Stop apologizing for the things you enjoy doing. Stop apologizing for coming up short. Stop apologizing when you don't see exactly eye to eye with the people around you. Just stop. You don't owe them an explanation for anything. Life is weird. It works differently for everyone. You will fall short. You will fail. You will make a decision that you will regret when you have a clear head the next morning. But that's OK. It's part of life and growing up. Apologies are for when you've hurt someone—not when things didn't turn out just right.

Love,

You (but with a little more experience)

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

59107
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

38176
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

959652
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

196718
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments