The lessons I learned from high school

High school.

10 letters, 2 words, 2 syllables, and an endless amount of memories.

Most people either have experienced, are experiencing, or will experience the wonders of high school. As of 2 months ago, I fit into the category of "have experienced", or four years of my life that I will never get back. I cannot say that I regret high school, otherwise how else would I be where I am today? I cannot say that high school was the best time of my life, but I met some of my favorite people and made some of the best memories because of this thing we call 'high school'.

If you haven't walked through the halls of high school just yet, then I hope you take these lessons and keep them in the back of your mind as you prepare for the roller coaster of high school. If you're currently in high school, you can probably agree with me on some of these lessons, but don't disregard the others. Lastly, for my graduates, I’m sure all of you will be nodding your heads as you read on and smile looking back on your high school memories.

Lesson #1: Everything in life goes by in the blink of an eye.

"High school will be gone before you know it."

I heard this exact phrase countless amounts of times from my teachers, family, friends, absolutely everyone, and you truly will not realize how fast it goes until it's gone. I remember the first day of freshman year like it was yesterday, expect it most definitely wasn't. I remember going to my first high school football game, my first homecoming (the theme was Alice in Wonderland), my freshman year math class (Mrs. Shirley was the best), and so much more. Then, after all the firsts, you have your lasts. The last time I stood in our student section (front row of course), the last prom I would ever go to, the last time I would sit in my favorite classes, and the last time I would walk those halls. Are we sure high school started over three years ago? Not only does high school go by fast, but everything else in life does too. As life hurtles past us, it is so important that we take in and cherish every moment because one day, you will wish you could go back to a certain moment in a special place with the people you love.

Lesson #2: A high school experience depends on what YOU make it out to be.

High school is an experience that depends on the situations and choices you make. If you choose to just show up, doze off during classes, and decide not to participate in school events, then those four years will most likely make the majority of your teenage years dreadful. Looking back, school events were the most memorable parts of high school. Nothing in high school can top getting to dress up with your friends before the formal dances, going out to eat after every sporting event (always Buffalo Wild Wings), screaming cheers at a basketball game, and even some of the student council meetings were a blast. High school may seem like a drag, but you ultimately are the person who decides if you can tell your future kids how much fun you had in high school, or if you’d rather “just not talk about it”.

Lesson #3: The world is HUGE.

Growing up, whether you lived in a small town, or a big city, you will always be surrounded by the same people. My high school was filled with about 1,300 students and we had all been around each other at least since middle school. I passed the same familiar faces every day in the halls, sat in classes next to the same people every year, and always knew all the hot gossip. It was the same thing every day, for as long as I can remember. High school made me come to the realization that after you’re enclosed in the same walls for four years, the world is huge. And I mean, HUGE. Whether you are going to college or are just moving forward in your life, the walls of high school demolish and the opportunities allow themselves to shine. Every day, you’re faced with a new challenge and it’s up to you to determine how you interact with it.

Lesson #4: What other people think about you is completely irrelevant.

Through high school, you learn that people are mean, cruel and deceiving. Numerous times, I walked completely out of my way to class just to avoid a certain person in hallway. Oh how I wish people like the ones I knew in high school just disappeared after I got my diploma. Believe it or not, there are hundreds and hundreds of people in this world that are just like them. It's hard to believe that even as adults people don't grow up, but, news flash, there are many people that don't.

As any normal person does, there are particular people that I get overly self-conscious around. Everything about my appearance becomes one big flaw and it's constantly on my mind until I'm no longer around them. Do I know that they're talking behind my back? No. Do I know for sure that they hate my outfit? No. So who cares? It's normal for people to spend their time trying to please others based on what they think of them, but their opinions are completely irrelevant. It took me a while to realize that there are so many more people supporting me rather than judging me and that's all that matters.

In conclusion, in high school I learned that it will be over before you know it and it is up to you to decide if your time throughout those four years are enjoyable. And ultimately, in the end, people are still mean in this big, big world we live in.

Today's Blog Post Bop:

"Bouncin" by Kiana Ledé and Offset

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And that's all she wrote,

Ariana J. Bagley