"Don’t be trapped by dogma, which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice, heart, and intuition."
– Steve Jobs to Stanford in 2005
We're told when we're about to start high school that we'll find ourselves. We'll meet our best friends and that we'll miss it when it's over. High school is not great for everyone. I, for one, had a rough 4 years of high school. I moved right before it started so I didn't know anyone. I was the new kid once again and I noticed that others knew it. It's tough being the new kid, let alone a kid in high school.
We all want to fit in, in one way or another. So we pretend to be what others want us to be, just so they'll like us. We all just wanted to survive high school. We start of with one true friend but try to get in with the cool crowd just to get more. Not realizing that the one friend that liked you for yourself isn't around anymore. They don't fit the agenda and standards of the cool kids. We slowly stop recognizing the person we used to be and start seeing this whole other person who would trade in true friends for "cool friends".
We get stuck in society's standards of having to be one way or another for people to like us. But here's the thing, when we spend so much time trying to meet other people's standards, we set them and ourselves up for disappointment. True friends will want to be around you no matter how you feel or how you dress. They will want to be around you because of you.
Since I can't go back in time and tell my high school self these words, I'll say them to all the current high students that feel like they don't know their place. High was hard for me and it might be hard for you but you WILL get through it. You will get through the heart breaks, the ending of friendships and the beginning of new ones. The horrible haircuts and dye jobs. The awful nicknames and random pimples that pop up over night. You will get through it all. And if there is a time when you don't feel like it, talk to someone. Talk to someone who has good and pure intentions towards you. Some people will use words to sweet talk you into thinking they're the only good thing you have. Don't believe them. There is someone who is on your side, whether it be a friend, boyfriend/girlfriend or an adult. Don't worry about how others see you. Worry about you interpret yourself to others.
High school can be a fun and great experience. It can also be a painful and sad one. No matter which one it is for you, remember that it's only 4 years. Once they are over, you won't have to go back. I never thought I could get through it and here I am. You will get through it too!
