The other day I was talking to someone about how I'm helping out my high school by assistant coaching volleyball. They asked me if I peaked in high school. I shrugged it off and said no. Not long after this got me thinking.
What if I did peak in high school?
I did peak in high school, and I'm not super mad about it, and I'm becoming more comfortable with accepting it. I loved high school. I was class president, captain of the volleyball team, a cheerleader, and homecoming queen. I won most involved and most school spirit. How can I look back and deny that I peaked in high school? I got to live my dream in high school, I enjoyed every minute of it. I was an average student but I got along with all of my teachers for every class. I graduated with 109 kids, and I knew all of them and their families. It was a small town, and I lived almost a dream high school experience. I had two older sisters and I always felt cool saying hi to them and their friends in the hallways. It gave me comfort then and comfort now to know that I am and always will be welcomed when I walk through those doors.
I'm in my senior year of college now and I have brought zero things to the table for my school. I don't go out on the weekends, and I don't feel like I belong where I go. Why is it the worst thing in the world if when I step into my high school gym, I am comforted? If I were reading this as someone else I would be be judging me so hard right now. I almost didn't write this because I knew people would judge me, but I'm so lame now I honestly don't care. And if you peaked in high school too, you shouldn't either.
I had so many friends in high school, and I was out every weekend with all of them. I was much happier, and had much less anxiety than I do now. Granted it's hard for me to go out, I'm taking max credits, work 20 to 30 hours a week, and volunteer at my high school.
I also believe you can peak more than once. High school was not my end all be all. I'm going to graduate from this school that I don't belong at, move on to grad school, and peak again. I'll peak again when I start my career, get married, and begin my life.
I know that I peaked in high school, and I feel now more often than ever it's something I'm constantly reminded of. I used to care so much, but after really thinking about it, and realizing it's okay to peak and different cornerstones of your life, I'm totally okay with being homecoming queen.
