Dear High Schooler,
I was in your position six months ago. I remember counting down the days until graduation -- until I would never have to go to this place again. I remember slacking on papers and studying because I was already accepted into the colleges that I wanted to be. Hanging out with my friends was more important than finishing that poetry packet. I also remember all the drama that I went through throughout my four years as a student there.
Drama seemed to be my best friend in high school. It seemed that no matter what I did and no matter what I said, it would always find me. I remember feeling like I was the problem. It had gotten to a point where someone who I thought was my friend had referred to me as a “common denominator” in my problems, making me feel as if every single bad thing that had happened had been my fault. There are a lot of days where I constantly remember those words whenever something happens. I don't let it dictate my life, however.
The truth is that people are going to want to hurt you in this life. People are going to see your happiness and make it their mission to extinguish it. You can’t listen to them. You can’t listen to the lies and the insults. You cannot let these people bring you down. There was a time in high school that I didn’t even want to go to lunch. There was a time where I was purposely late to class in order to avoid someone. There was a time I had to take myself off of social media because I didn’t want to know what they were going to say about me today. You cannot let them win. You cannot let people control you.
Stand up for yourself. Don’t let the bitterness of others dull your happiness. However, you must make sure you do this correctly. It would be a lie if I said I did everything correctly in my drama. I’ll admit that I did contribute to the subtweets. Subtweeting someone is never the answer to getting past the drama. It will only make things worse. If you have something to say to someone, say it in person. Chances are, the person who you are fighting with is too chicken to say what they have to to your face. We live in a generation of cowards hiding behind screens because they are too insecure to show themselves. The people who I fought with refused to even glance in my direction when I passed them in the halls, but they were all talk on screen.
It does get better. Trust me, I know how cliche that sounds. I remember going through my senior year and telling my friends that I didn’t know how I was going to make it through the last couple months. Now I am starting my second semester of college. I have great friends who actually appreciate me for the weirdo that I am. I have a great roommate who is always there for me. If I had let all that high school misery get to me, I would not be where I am today. I made it through it, and I have faith that you can too. It is true that college changes people. It seems that everyone grows up and although there is some college drama, it is nothing compared to the bitterness of high school drama. You can make it through this.Clear Eyes. Full Hearts. Can't lose.
Drama-Free Since High School
