I was voted onto Prom Court my senior year. I was the captain of the Varsity Cheer Team. I went to state for gymnastics. I was my school's drum major. I sat first chair in my school's orchestra. I was the lead in the musical. I was the star quarterback for the football team. I was the most popular kid in school. I'm sorry to break it to you, but none of it matters. When it comes to real life, how far will that get you? If you happen to be pursuing any of these as a profession, please ignore this entire article as it does not apply to you.

In high school, you feel like you're on top of the heap, king of the world, as if nothing is better than this exact time in your life. I'm sorry to break it to you, but life gets so much better. Sure high school is a place where you branch out, find yourself, do what you love, all that fun stuff, but it's not real life. Okay it is real life but more of a sheltered perspective of it; it's not always fun and games. Can you actually put "I was popular in high school" under work experience on a resume? Sure you could, but good luck getting the job.

Don't get me wrong, I loved high school and there are things that I wish I could relive, but the fact of the matter is college woke me up. Mommy and Daddy aren't always going to be around to pay for food, groceries, clothes, whatever you want, etc. College makes you feel like an adult whereas in high school you're just given that title. You think you're so high and mighty in high school but college really brings things back into perspective. You think you're the only one to be an all-star QB, a rockin' musician, a math genius, but when you get to college just throw 30 or more "you's" into the mix. You're not alone, it doesn't feel as special anymore because you realize how many kids across the country have held the same titles you once thought were so unique. Everything you did feels so minuscule, so insignificant, so unimportant compared to everyone else's accomplishments.

I'm not telling you not to work hard to accomplish goals, I'm putting it into perspective for the little guys who don't always step into the spotlight. It's not the end of the world if you don't become class president, valedictorian, most popular, or most talented because when you get to college none of it matters. You start over; it's a clean slate. People don't care about who you were in high school nor do they care what you did. The only thing they care about is how you are now. The past is over: all you can do is cherish the memories and time you spent doing what you did. You can't regret decisions either. Here are some final words of wisdom to live by, "Nothing lasts forever. So live it up, drink it down, laugh it off, avoid the drama, take chances, and never have regrets because at one point everything you did was exactly what you wanted."