For some, high school can be the hardest four years you go through in your life. Fake friends, boy drama, and stress from school and activities make it feel like you’re never going to make it out alive. After you make it to graduation and move on to bigger and better things, you look back on your time there and realize you probably blew things out of proportion.

So, remember your friend from middle school who ditched you for her boyfriend? Who cares?! These are just the little things that don't matter in the big scheme of your life. If I had the same mindset I have now, I would have been much better off in and could have actually enjoyed high school more.

The biggest thing that can hold you down, not only in high school but in life in general, is caring too much about what other people think. It’s much easier said than done, but focusing less on what they think or say about you behind your back is a relief.

Something embarrassing happened? Whoever saw it will forget it happened in 10 minutes. You don't want to party every weekend? Your true friends will accept that and whoever doesn't like it, it’s their problem. Do what makes you happy and don’t worry about other people. Pay attention to something you can control, like yourself.

You need to focus your energy and time on yourself. Only you can make yourself happy. If it’s a Sunday night and you just wish you didn't have to go to school on Monday, just keep reminding yourself of your goals for the future and what is waiting for you after high school.

Picture yourself doing the things you want like traveling and going to your dream college so that it’s all worth it. Keep focusing on your goals and dreams and you will get there one day. High school doesn't last forever and the world is out there waiting for you.

It’s also important to not look at high school as a “jail” or something that’s in the way of being happy. Yes it sucks to wake up early every day and sit in a classroom for hours. But it’s also a time to make a bond with your friends that you probably will lose touch with once you all go to different colleges. You are a teen and you’re young; so do stupid things on the weekend, and learn from your mistakes.

I look at high school as a learning experience, and once you get out to college or the real world, you’ll see you got a few good friends and memories out of it. Remember, it doesn't matter what they think because you will prove to them once you have everything they wanted that you are better than them. High school doesn't actually have to suck.