Dear High School Freshman,

Congratulations! This is a big step for you and I’m sure you’re excited as can be. You are about to embark on a whole new adventure with new beginnings. There is so much in store for you and this is just the beginning. Please remember the following as you begin your high school journey.

Don’t take yourself so seriously.

It is so important to laugh, but one of the best lessons I learned was how to laugh at myself. Everyone has embarrassing moments, but being able to laugh it off makes them that much easier. Embrace who you are. Love yourself. But most importantly, laugh at yourself once in awhile.

It’s okay to say no.

Sometimes you’ll find yourself in an uncomfortable place. You may feel as though you’re caught between a rock and a hard place and it is so difficult to know what to do. If you think something isn't right, you can get up and leave. You don't owe it to anyone to put yourself in a situation that makes you uncomfortable. Never be afraid to ask someone for help, and never be afraid to simply say no.

It’s okay to say yes . . .

There will be times where you want to go hang out with friends, but you have to study. I guarantee you, one bad grade will not hurt you. It’s okay to enjoy life as you navigate through high school.

. . . But for the love of God, learn when to use which one.

The worst part about growing up is learning that there won’t always be someone there to give you permission to do something. It is up to you to determine when you should use yes and when you should just say no. It won’t always be obvious which one you should choose, but that’s just something you learn how to do with time.

Appreciate your mom.

I get it, your curfew is 11, but all your friends have curfews past midnight. You may seek to blame your mom for being ‘so unfair,’ but she really does only want the best for you. It may seem at times as though she is the meanest mom on the block, but it’s only because she loves you. Cliche, I know, but true. From the time your mom only has 720 days to kiss you goodbye as you head off to school in the morning, I guarantee you she only wants to make those 720 days last. Answer her calls and respond to her texts, she loves you more than you know and just wants to hold onto you for as long as she can.

Find an adult who is not your parent that you can trust.

High school isn’t always fun. You’ll find yourself in situations that may have too big of a burden for you to carry alone. Sometimes you won’t want to go to your parents with that burden which is why it is so crucial to have an adult who you trust. Whether that be a teacher, coach, or a friend’s parent, it is very important to know someone to call when you find yourself in trouble.

Take advantage of every opportunity.

High school comes with many opportunities for you to get involved with your school and community. Whether you be presented with an opportunity to play sports, join a club, volunteer, etc. think it over before you turn it down. You never know what door may be opened from it. You could potentially earn a scholarship, find your passion, or even make lifelong friends. Never be afraid to take an opportunity that interests you.

Don’t be afraid of what others may think.

No matter what you do in this lifetime, there will always be someone out there who doesn’t like you. That’s reality. If you want to do something that makes you happy, do it. It doesn’t matter if your peers deem it ‘uncool.’ If it makes you happy, keep on keepin’ on.

Grades matter.

Contrary to popular opinion, your high school grades do matter. If your dream school only requires a minimum GPA of 2.5, push for higher. You could earn a scholarship for your hard work. If you aren’t planning on furthering your education, an impressive transcript always looks amazing to an employer. When you study to earn good grades, you develop habits that will carry you throughout life. You learn how to manage your time and develop an overall sense of achievement. Your grades are worth it, I promise.

Never put off tomorrow what can be done today.

Procrastination affects everyone. The sooner you learn to get your assignments done in a timely fashion the better. It’s never enjoyable to realize you suddenly have two papers, three projects, and a test all due tomorrow. Time management is a skill that you should develop your freshman year and continue to sharpen it throughout the rest of your life.

Most of all, trust that everything will work out just as it is supposed to.

It is so incredibly frightening to take a leap of faith and hope for the best. Things will not always go your way and the sooner you learn to roll with the punches, the happier you will be. Ask that girl out, try out for that team, the worst they can do is tell you no. And heavens forbid, if you are turned down, that’s okay. You will learn from it and grow. Whatever happens, happens for a reason. It may not make sense today or tomorrow, but one day, in retrospect, it will all make sense.

High school goes by in the blink of eye. Some days that’s a good thing and other days it’s not. Remember to soak it all in, you never know what life may throw at you.

Love,