It's official, you're about to start your first year of high school soon. You're probably super anxious and excited at the same time, which is totally normal.
Here are a couple of things I would've told my younger self before embarking on those 4 years:
1.Be Yourself.
I know, you've heard this so many times. Your mom probably said this the night before your first day or something like "Don't worry, just be yourself, everything will be fine."
But no one talks about how hard it is to stay true to yourself in high school.
There is a constant need to fit in and be like everyone else. When you get to high school, you're going through a lot of emotional and physical changes in a whole new environment. You'll meet so many new people, and while you don't necessarily have to be friends with everyone, eventually you'll find your own crowd who accepts you for who you are.
2.It's Okay To Make Mistakes.
You failed your math test, it sucks trust me I know, you probably feel like it’s the end of the world BUT it's not- believe me- (no, I’m not saying you shouldn’t work hard in school) but you’re probably gonna slip up once in a while and it's OKAY.
Don’t beat yourself up over one mistake or even a hundred mistakes. We live, and we learn and without mistakes, there is no growth. Plants can’t grow without rain.
Am I saying that you will mess everything up? No.
But you’ll probably look back at a moment when you said or did something completely out of line with your character and cringe, and you won't be the first to, neither will you be the last.
3.Spend time with your family.
It probably seems like your parents would be the last people you’d want to hang out with, but actually, your family will almost be one of the few people that will wholeheartedly support you regardless of what you’ll be going through.
When you go to college, you won’t be able to see your family as frequently as you used to. Those family dinners that you think are boring and a waste of time might end up being one of your most unforgettable memories. So spend as much time with them as you can and cherish those moments.
4.Do not rush.
Now that you’re in high school, you might feel the pressure to do anything and everything to fit in with everyone else.
You might be feeling so acutely aware of everyone else and what they’re doing, wondering why all your friends have started dating before you or how some people have already started driving while you were struggling to pass your written permit test. Or even how the popular girl has the latest iPhone and you have an android (no shade to android users).
Well, all of that doesn’t matter, do what works for YOU, at your own timing. You compete with no one but yourself.
5.Remember What You're Here For.
While high school can be super fun and exciting, it's important to keep your priorities in place. High school is the bridge between childhood and adulthood.
Even though it may seem insignificant, What you do in high school heavily impacts your ability to enroll in college to pursue your future career and to qualify for your future job prospects. So you must put in the time and the effort to get the grades you need to graduate and move on to the next level.
6.Be Organized.
This literally one of the best life decisions you could ever make. And it doesn’t hurt to start now, the earlier the better.
Get a study planner to help you get your academic stuff in line. Arrange a timetable for your day-to-day activities to help you keep track. It’ll help you cover everything you need to in a day.
7.It Doesn't Last Forever.
Even though it may seem like school life will last forever, time goes by really fast in school and before you know it, you’ll be graduating, moving on to the next chapter of your life, and leaving this one behind. The things that you think mean the world to you now, might not even cross your mind ten years from now. You may or may not see the people you went to high school with again after you go your separate ways.
According to Brandon Gaille Marketing,” 25 percent of people are marrying their high school sweethearts today compared with those in the 1940s. Today, only 2 percent of marriages are from a high school relationship”.
So the chances of you marrying Travis from English literature class are almost zero. So enjoy every single party, lunch break, or get- together you have with your classmates and savor it because it could be your last.
High school to some can be a wonderful, carefree experience while to others it can be a difficult one. Either way, the memories you'll make will be unforgettable.
