It has officially been a year since I graduated from high school. High school was a learning experience for me, as it is for many individuals. I went through ups and many, many downs in schoolwork, relationships, and even friendships. In my senior year, I was never in class, didn't care about my grades, and quite frankly, I didn't care about anyone I was going to school with. I remember, around this time last year, opening up Facebook during my English class and reading an Odyssey article called "An Open Letter To The Graduating High School Senior" Now, I don't bash writers, but honestly, everyone needs to stop sugar-coating leaving high school and coming to college.
Being on your own is hard
You're putting the finishing touches on your dorm room, and you walk out and give your parents one last hug before you're officially on your own. Honestly, that hug feels like its going to be the last hug you ever get from your mom and dad. Don't get me wrong, I love my space, and I have learned to love being independent, but there is going to be a time in the semester when you have no food, no money, and no clean clothes, and you will wish that you were right down the hall from a fridge full of food and your mom's snuggles. Don't underestimate a shower without flip flops, a home-cooked meal, and the smell of your home, because even though you claim you're independent, you're 19 and no one is expecting you to have it all together on your own.
It's OK to not have your sh*t together
Honestly, you don't have to know what you're majoring in or what you're planning on doing after college; you don't even have to know if you'll eat breakfast in the morning. It is OK to not have your sh*t together, because there are thousands of other students just like you who also have no clue.
Share your heart
To be completely honest, I still have trouble with this one. The human heart in my opinion is the most complicated thing in the entire world; it's ranking up there with that Rubik's cube that is still sitting in my room unsolved. Share your heart, even if it has been torn out and drug through the mud. There is beauty in wearing your heart on your sleeve.
Appreciate every failure
During your college career, you're going to fail a lot, and it is the worst feeling ever, but in every failure there is a surprise, and you'll be thankful that you had fell down and scrapped your knee a little bit.
Go to that party
You are paying thousands for an education, it's OK to go to that party and let loose.
Use resources that are free to you
Again, you are paying thousands to be attending college, so use the library, use the free therapy sessions, and enjoy that free food. You will not regret it.
Celebrate others' success
Do not ever look down on yourself or get angry because someone is succeeding in their life. Everyone is dealing with something; make them feel great about their success and they will return the favor.
Accept every end and beginning
Accept that you are graduating high school and starting this new experience. Don't be the person who goes back to every high school party. Accept that your time in high school is over and let the others have their time. You already had yours.
Your parents will always be proud of you
There will be times when you disappoint your parents, but you will never be a failure to them. Don't be afraid to tell your mom and dad if you get into trouble. Never go behind their backs, because they will always find out, trust me on that one.
"No" is a complete sentence
Saying and accepting the word "no" needs to be a college course. "No" never needs justification.
Never settle
Never settle for shitty relationships, never settle for a bad grade, never settle for average.
Don't forget about your high school teachers, friends, and the lessons high school taught you
If it wasn't for my junior year English teacher, I would still hate writing and English. He taught me to love the honest writing of Hemingway and to never second guess my writing. My friends were some of the greatest individuals I've ever have gotten the pleasure to know. We might not be as close as we were in high school, but they taught me what love feels likes. Last, but not least, never forget about the lessons that you were taught in high school. High school made you who you are. Everything that occurred in those halls taught you everything. Don't take that time for granted. Ever.
