As a college freshman, I have had a lot of time to reflect on my time in high school. I made a lot of mistakes both personally and academically, but I still managed to graduate and excel. It is because of my mistakes that I am who I am today. For that reason, I cherish my process of personal growth, even if it wasn't always a smooth journey. Even so, if I were to do it all again, I would still do some things differently. Here are ten things I would tell my 14-year-old self if given the chance, and ten things I think high school freshmen should know before they begin school.
1. Learn how to prioritize
Studying for subjects you have difficulty with should be your priority in school, and not just for the sake of your GPA. I've had a 104 average in math, but I've also had a 64, and I felt so much better about myself when I had that 104. Procrastinating, I realized, prevented me from excelling. Take it from me, learn how to prioritize. It could mean the difference between getting an A in math and flunking the class.
2. No one cares if you don't go to the party.
I cannot overstate this one enough. I used to get so upset when my parents refused to let me go out with my friends. In retrospect, I realize how silly I was. Going to a party is not a life-and-death decision, and attending every social event in high school is not only time-consuming, it is also time-wasting. Most parties begin to get mundane too, especially if the same crowd (and only that crowd) attends every one. As a side note, (as my dad says) nothing good ever happens after 2AM.
3. Effort never betrays you.
Doing work is never fun, but you should be motivated to do it. It can be incredibly tedious to dedicate time towards school, but it really does pay off. It felt good to get an acceptance letter from my dream school, especially after I worked so hard for it.
4. Drama is inevitable. Don't sweat the small stuff.
No one will remember it in five years from now, anyway (even if doesn't seem like it). There were so many times throughout my high school experience that I thought my social life was over. My friend group disbanded during junior year, three of my friends transferred to a different school when I was a sophomore, and I became strangers with my once best friend. As trite as it may sound, friends come and go. The friends you begin freshman year with might very likely not be the same friends you graduate with, but life goes on. Life will give you plenty of things to cry about; I don't think high school drama is one of those.
5. Boys are minor characters of your high school story; don't make them the plot.
You shouldn't spend your free time chasing boys. Instead, you should focus on your goals. But don't get me wrong, dating in high school is fun and not totally futile. It's important to (learn how to) date and figure out what you want and should expect out of a relationship.
6. If you're a freshman, and he's a senior, run.
If you're wondering why a nearly college-aged boy is suddenly inexorably interested in you, it's not because you're special or cool enough for him to dismiss the stigma of dating a prepubescent, hardly-a-teen teen. Something's awry. You won't know it immediately, but there's a reason why he can't find girls in his grade. Avoid him at all costs!
7. Nail it.
Your SAT score and GPA shouldn't make or break you, but they do. They are defining components of your college application. Put in the time to study for standardized testing. It is more about learning how to take the test than it is about becoming an intellectual phenom overnight.
8. Have fun.
Even though your grades are the arguably the most important part of high school, you should not let that prevent you from having some fun. I know people who went out every weekend and never opened a textbook, and I know people who were on the opposite side of that spectrum: people who never left their own home. You shouldn't be either of those extremes. Go to Prom and Homecoming. Some of my best memories were made during hangouts and football games.
9. Join a sport (or activity)
Even if it means having to compete at 6 a.m. on Saturday. Probably my biggest regret during high school was not joining track as a junior. I miss my teammates, my coach, and the workouts. Sports taught me dedication and hard work, and I wish I had someone forcing me to run now that I'm in college.
10. Being a teacher's pet isn't always a bad thing.
When I became a senior, the horror that dawned on me was that I was going to have to ask my teachers for letters of recommendation. I had never really tried before then to develop any meaningful relationship with my teachers. After I became friends with some, I realized what I had been missing out on. I was graded more leniently when I made mistakes, my classes became more enjoyable, and sometimes they slipped me cookies to eat during class.
