Dear Almost Every Single Student I Know,

So, I know what you're thinking, what you're all thinking...It's the end of August. School is happening in less than a week! Oh, my life is over. Goodbye, sunshine. Goodbye, tan. Goodbye warmth. Goodbye all that is good in the world. Peace out, beach. Back to the daily exhausting and stressful grind that we call school.

But hold up, hold up! Who says it has to be this way? Who created this so called negative connotation that comes along with 'school?' Listen up guys, it does not have to be this way! School does not have to be this so called prison that we make it out to be! When you hear the word 'school,' you don't have to anxiously groan. When you hear 'school,' your mind might immediately visualize the stressful workload that you are about to endure. The tests, the projects, the long classic books and essays that follow. Waking up at six a.m. to catch the bus, then spend six non-stop hours learning things you may never even need to use in 'real life.' (Mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell, by the way.) So, yeah, the back to school season has a pretty bad rap.

But, here's the issue. The only reason that you dislike school is because you've literally been programmed to. Not all of you, of course. Some people, like me, love school and are so excited for it to start back up! On the other hand, the mention of school sends some people into an anxious craze. Will I make friends? Will I get lost on the first day? UGH, all of my freedom is gone! No more vacations. Hello stress, goodbye relaxation. And listen, the anxiety? I completely understand that and I've been there too many times. You're talking to the girl who literally sat down in a Forensics classroom before realizing her schedule said 'Environmental Science.' But, hey, listen to me. It does NOT have to be this way.

School is a privilege. I'm dead serious. You might laugh at me. Oh, girl, you think waking up at six a.m. every day only to spend six hours sitting at a desk being lectured on how to find the slope of a line is a privilege, a gift? Well, yeah, that's exactly what I'm saying. In the world, there are 130 million out-of-school youth. Another statistic, 70% of these youth are women. These children are literally denied the gift of education and knowledge. So, yeah, Y=Mx+b? That means something. It's something that some people have no ability to access. School is just not a bad thing. You might hate waking up at six a.m. every day, but once you receive that diploma, all of your hard work and waking up super early is going to be so totally worth it.

Education is the ticket to your future. Don't waste it. Don't ridicule it. Don't disrespect your teachers, and don't treat it all like some joke. School is what you make it. What you put into it is what you're going to get out of it. You literally have four years of high school. It's not a game, it's serious and should be taken as such. Make the most of these four short years. It all pays off in the end.

School is what you make it. Tell yourself it's going to be awful and quite honestly, it will be. But, if instead you are grateful, treat it as a gift and a privilege, and acknowledge its seriousness, you can make the most of it and succeed in school. Positive energy, positive mindset, inspiration, motivation, and drive. Make the most of what you've got.

This school year, I challenge you. To not be stressed, upset, anxious, or mad that school is coming up once again. Be on top of things. Stay organized, and most of all, keep your goals in mind. There's a saying that I love. "If your goals aren't enough to motivate you, then they aren't big enough."

Get inspired. Get motivated. Work hard.

Life is what you make it, so hey, why not make it incredible?

Love,

a girl that has learned to truly love school, Taylor