So, you had a bad rep in high school… you feel like you’ll never live it down and will never be able to be who you want to be. If you haven’t been told already, graduation changes everything. When you move away you can be whoever you want to be.

Your new college friends don’t have to know about the high school scandal that labeled you. Or that you weren’t involved enough to never get a label. The world is filled with so many different kinds of people and you will find your place.

A high school is a place filled with hormones and immaturity. Rumors spread faster than the flu, and bullying occurs around every corner. Especially with the social media frenzy that we have now. If you have been the victim to this situation let me tell you, this will all be a distant memory one day.

You do not have to be what everyone says you are. You do not have to stoop to their level and get revenge. When you get to college or enter the workforce most mature people don’t care what you did or who you were in high school. I mean let's face it, most people weren't "living their best life" in high school.

We’ve all had our own battles, and were all just trying to make the best of this crazy thing we call life.

Maybe you’re lonely and feel like you don’t fit in. You just haven’t found your place yet. Everyone will graduate and go their separate ways. You might find your best friend on your first day of college or the first day of your new job. Explore what this world has to offer. Eventually, you will end up where you’re meant to be.

Maybe you were the "IT girl". Everyone wanted to be you or date you. Leaving high school is going to be a rude awakening for you. But that's okay because you will learn how to really love yourself and not need others approval to be happy. You will learn to really be yourself and do what you want to do, not what others think you should do.

Maybe you never really got involved and didn't apply yourself because it wasn't "cool." News flash, the only time your popularity or image really "matter" is in high school. You can become a mature adult and take responsibility for your actions. So you may not have prepared yourself for college or the workforce, work hard and be better from here on out.

Graduating high school and moving on with your life allows for so many things to occur. It’s a fresh start, especially if you move away from home. You can change your wardrobe, hair, personality, or whatever you want. You can be a completely different person if you want. Just be happy.

On that note, if you find yourself surrounded by people that bring you down, just let them go. Some people just can't let go of high school judgments and always stir up drama. It sucks having to make new friends, but you should be surrounded by people that bring out the best in you.

{If you had really great friends in high school, you don't have to lose them. Moving away from each other is tough, but maintaining those friendships is great. You will probably see your old best friend make new friends and experience a whole new life. Be happy for them.}

Enjoy your time in high school. Enjoy being young and not having real responsibilities. But don’t let the negativity and drama get you down. It is so cliché to say “it gets better,” but it really does. Don’t let a bad past stop you from having a great future.