Throughout my four years at West Forsyth, I’ve gathered quite a bit of wisdom, and as the youngest child in my family, I have no one to pass it on to. So, now that my high school career is finally coming to a close, here are some of the not-so-easy life lessons I’ve learned along the way.
Being alone is better than settling for someone who doesn’t deserve you
In high school, everyone seems to be going on dates or talking to people romantically, so it’s easy to feel like you’re behind because you have nothing going on in your love life. There is nothing wrong with you and you are not unloveable, so don’t put up with the bare minimum just because you don’t want to be alone. Being single is the perfect opportunity to strengthen your friendships or find something you’re passionate about. You are worth so much more than the number of potential love interests on your Snapchat or how long your relationships last.
Everything will work out the way it’s supposed to
This saying has been in my back pocket for everything: for when the person you thought was the love of your life dumps you, when you bomb a Calculus test or when your best friend turns out to be not-so-great after all. While many of these things might seem like the end of the world, you’ll eventually realize there was a reason for it. Just because things don’t happen how you want them to doesn’t mean it can’t lead to something better or an opportunity to learn. It just takes time to realize that you don’t know it all, so take a deep breath and keep going.
Put your phone down and live a little
I know we’ve all heard this from our parents at one point or another, but I realized how right they were all along when I started reflecting on high school from the other side. You’ll never look back on your high school experience and think “I should have scrolled through TikTok more,” but you will regret the football games and family dinners that you skipped out on to sit in your room on your phone all night.
Don’t be afraid to say no
Whether it’s to an extra responsibility that you don’t have time to commit to or to your friends’ plans for a less-than-legal Friday night, saying no is an important skill that can keep you out of stressful or potentially dangerous situations. Just because someone asked nicely or is in a position of power doesn’t mean you should feel obligated to agree to something you aren’t comfortable with; it is always your choice. Trust your decision-making skills and don’t let anyone pressure you to do something you aren’t 100% on board with.
While I learned many of these lessons the hard way, I wouldn’t trade my high school experience for the world. So, if you take anything away from my advice, remember to slow down and enjoy it because you’ll miss it someday.
