My freshman year of high school was a huge adjustment for me. Many aspects of my life changed, and although I learned many new things that I'll take with me through high school, there were five that stood out the most.

1. The people you spend time with will change

Before, I entered high school, I heard a lot about how my friend group would change, and I was extremely worried. As it turns out, it did, but in the best way possible. When I got to high school and joined the theatre program, I was suddenly surrounded by all of these people who had similar interests to me, and I became close friends with many of them. I didn't necessarily lose my old friends, but I grew apart from some of them naturally. This turned out to be such a positive thing, and although my friend group changed, I got to meet people who were passionate about things that I was.

2. Personal happiness is so important

It's no secret that high school is stressful, and I contribute a lot of my success from this year to the fact that I prioritized my own happiness. I took time to do things for me, and it helped me to become more confident, focused, and calm. I'm the kind of person who likes to focus on others before myself, but giving myself permission to focus on my happiness was crucial this year.

3. Wear what makes you happy

This one might seem a little weird, but it was so important for me during freshman year. I used to spend so much time worrying about my clothing, and what others would think about it. When I finally decided to let go and wear things that I felt good in, it made all the difference in the world. I wore things that made me feel happy and confident, which increased my confidence in other aspects of my life as well.

4. Speak up about your opinions

This is always something I've done, but it became extremely important for me this year. I realized how valuable it is for me to share my thoughts and beliefs, and I made it a goal to do so this year. There were times where I regretted not speaking up, but I never regretted when I did.

5. If someone is rude to you, they are not your friend

This was probably the most important lesson I learned this year. I've had so many friends in the past who made me feel bad about myself, and acted like it was a normal thing for a friend to do. This year I met people who wanted to support me, who wanted to hear what I had to say, and who were proud to see me succeed. I made so many true friends this year, and it helped me to realize that I needed to stop wasting my time on people who tore me down. I stopped letting those people have an impact on me, and I am so proud of the people I spend my time with now.