Dear Friend,
As a 20 year old, flipping through old yearbooks is surprisingly nostalgic. I had some good times during those days. I stayed involved in activities and started some wonderful friendships. I became more independent, finally broke out of my childhood shyness, and even traveled a bit. But do I miss it? Would I relive those years if I had the chance?
No. And if you’re feeling the same way, it’s okay.
As someone who watches trashy, teen CW shows and still is used to be a High School Musical super-fan, I know that the pressure to absolutely love your high school years is too real. You’re expected to attend every sporting event, and be really popular. You have to find your high school sweetheart who you’ll go to prom with, but only after a highly elaborate "promposal" (yes, that's a thing). Then you guys will become “relationship goals” on social media. And you'll find time to get perfect SAT scores, and get accepted into Yale or Stanford.
But don’t buy in to those expectations. Maybe you had a bad breakup (or three). Maybe you didn’t really make a lot of friends, or you moved to a new school. Whatever the reason, high school may have had more downs than ups. Just know that life goes on, and the problems you might be facing today won’t always be there. The world is so much bigger than the confines of your campus. It’s bigger than your hometown. It’s full of possibilities that you haven’t even thought of yet.
I wouldn’t trade those hard adolescent years for the world. They’re necessary. One day, they will be a marker to show you how far you’ve come. Plus, wouldn't it be great to say that you didn't peak at 18? Whether your plans are college or otherwise, you get to choose how you live your life from here on out. As the great Walt Disney once said, “If you can dream it, you can do it.”
Love,
Steph
