Although four years may not sound like much, high school is undeniably one of the most pivotal periods in our lives. Our teenage years are typically filled with much questioning and with self discovery, which is often much less profound than it sounds. The ages 14 to 18 are oftentimes the peak of our insecurities. A single building filled primarily with members of the aforementioned age group characterized by raging hormones is practically a breeding ground for meaningless drama. Regardless of whether or not you found enjoyment from your time in high school, there is a universally experienced sense of catharsis as you cross that stage at graduation. Although the prospects of the “real world” and college may seem daunting, after the four-year high school experience, you are more than physically and mentally prepared to move on toward bigger and better things, namely college.

Now don’t get me wrong; there are many aspects of my high school years that I do thoroughly miss. The friendships I cultivated, the lessons I learned and my fondest memories are all held near to my heart. However, the thought of the strict social structure and the incessant concern of social status that ran rampant through those crowded hallways leaves an all too familiar pit in my stomach. I was never the type to care about others’ opinions of myself or ever really allow negative remarks of others to affect me. However, it was a difficult mentality to maintain in an atmosphere so caustic and judgmental. Since lies and deception were so prevalent amongst my peers, I began to fear the evident deficiency of authenticity. As somebody who often prides herself as being inherently honest and transparent, for better or for worse, I found it increasingly difficult to sift through the majority to find those that I felt were truly genuine. That is not to say, though, that I never caved into the pressures of social climbing. However, I never truly felt comfortable or satisfied with the lifestyle. There was an almost competitive agenda amidst those vying for popularity. The single drive or sole purpose of many friendships was to further escalate the social ladder, and that never quite sat well in my stomach.

Each time I return home from college, I am reunited with that sense of irritation. It feels as if I am instantly greeted with the same familiar high school cattiness. I honestly gain a new appreciation for my college lifestyle with each visit. The contrast in social atmosphere is indisputable. While occasional drama occurs at any stage of life, a majority of college students that I’ve come across have reached a point of exasperation from the past four years of unnecessary issues and disputes. Let’s face it: faking it is exhausting. The exhaustion has finally allowed for people’s honest selves to show through their fabricated facades. Not only are many people finished with acting fake themselves, but they are even more tired of pretending to enjoy the visibly disingenuous characters around them. Those who thrived in their high school years simply by feigning confidence and acting as if they ran the show from the beginning have found that this attitude simply doesn't succeed in college. It's quite evident in the reactions of others that those who reached their peak in high school just may never experience that success again. The value of authenticity and genuine character have proven to be significantly greater here than anywhere that I’ve come across. I'd much rather thrive in an atmosphere that emphasizes honesty as opposed to insincerity.