In high school I was never in the popular crowd. I didn't go to parties. I didn't sit at the big lunch table. I wasn't the cool kid.
I had friends. I went to sporting events. I was in school administered clubs and sports teams. I was normal.
I was always jealous at the time of the girls that always had a boyfriend and that were elaborately asked to prom. Of all the other kids that got invited to the parties that I would get to see pictures of the next Monday. I was friends with them, but I wasn't one of them and I never knew why. Why didn't everyone want to be friends with me? Why was I occasionally made the butt of jokes for them to laugh at? Why did they just assume that I would willingly do all the work in projects or let them copy my homework?
I didn't peak in high school. I am so glad I didn't peak in high school. I had a decent high school experience that I don't wish to relive and that's OK. The petty drama, gossip, and cliques wasn't where I was meant to be. Now I'm a college student and I am thriving. I love it. I'm having exciting new memories and adventures past my senior year of high school that I can cherish. My adventure did not stop when I walked across that stage.
I decided to throw myself blindly into a college that none of my close friends were attending and that terrified me. However, I'm grateful for my courage now. I'm grateful for my courage in high school to not let myself conform to expectations. If I had peaked in high school I wouldn't be where I am, or who I am today. I wouldn't have met so many new people that I have built long lasting friendships with. I wouldn't have found my desire to learn. To study. To become the best of my ability. I wouldn't be able to throw myself into awkward situations with new people and make the best of it. If I had peaked in high school I would be interacting mainly with the same people now, who were there then. I would still have the gossip mill flowing and rocking around me. I would still have unwanted judgments cast on my every decision. I would be going in circles reliving the "best four years of my life" until I was old and gray. There are so many more things that I want to live to tell about besides what happened in those hallways.
In all honesty, most of the time I think back on things I said and did and cringe. I had no idea that it gets better. Despite that, high school started the process of shaping who I am today, and I'm thankful. However, I am so thankful I didn't peak in high school. I am so thankful I gave myself the opportunity to discover who I really am (I still am not completely sure) and blossom. No one knows who they are at 17.
