As a senior in college, I’ve had some time to look back and reflect on my high school years. I’ve had many amazing experiences, as well as many terrible ones. I’ve achieved things, and I’ve failed at things (a lot!). I’ve meet lots of great people, and some not so great people. Despite it all, these experiences have helped to shape me into who I am today, and they’ve helped me to learn, grow, and better myself along the way. Life is a journey, so enjoy it – don’t worry so much about the things that don’t matter in the long run.
Looking back, I was so worried about things that are so pointless – how my hair looked, what others thought of me, how many people I’ve dated compared to my friends, what I weighed, and so much more. The thing is, none of these things matter, yet I put so much time, energy and heavy emotions that, let’s be honest – no one has time for – into these things. Stop overthinking and don’t waste your precious time and energy on things that don’t serve you – you’re worth so much more than letting your anxieties drag you down. As a result of my misperceptions in high school, I’ve made a list of 19 things I would tell my high school self…
- Put Yourself Out There!
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This is the time to make mistakes, meet new people and have fun. Discover your passions, find who you are and explore everything!
- No One Actually Cares About What You Look Like.
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Bad hair days happen. Some days you’ll look like a supermodel and other days you’ll look like a racoon – it’s called balance! Stop trying to be perfect because no one is!
- Stop Comparing Yourself to Others!
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You are your own person and you’re amazing in your own way. Stop trying to be like ‘Jessica’, she probably wishes she was more like you. Own your badassness and be confident!
- Yes, There Really ARE More Men Out There.
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If your crush doesn’t reciprocate or the ‘love of your life’ turned out to be an a**, don’t let that ruin all men for you. There are plenty of great ones out there that aren’t jerks, I promise.
- No, Your College Professor Will NOT Care as Much as People Tell You.
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Yeah, your teachers may say, “you won’t get away with that in college.” Spoiler alert: you probably will. College professors are the most laid back people I’ve ever met. Don’t get me wrong – do your work, but they’re not going to expel you for missing an assignment.
- Making the Effort Really Does Pay Off.
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If you work hard, pay attention and do your part, you will thrive! Don’t take the easy way out or be lazy – it won’t get you anywhere. Putting in the effort will take you far and lead you to success.
- Your Weight is NOT Important!
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You are so beautiful no matter what you weigh! The amount of time you spend worrying about your weight is so ridiculously pointless, and honestly a HUGE waste of time. Your weight does not matter – what matters is eating a healthy, balanced diet that fulfills your body and your mind. Don’t be mean to your body, she loves you – take care of yourself!
- Be Nicer to Your Parents – They’re Stressed Too.
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Don’t take your stress or anger out on your parents. If you had a bad day, go for a walk, watch a funny movie or take a bubble bath with a good book. They’ve done a lot for you and chances are, they have plenty of bad days too, so treat them well!
- If You Don’t Party, You Won’t Be ‘Uncool’.
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Partying is most certainly not what it’s talked up to be. If you think you’ll be ‘uncool’ if you don’t, you’re way wrong. Stand up for what you believe in and stick to your own morals and values. Not everyone parties and no one has to. After a long day, Netflix and snacks sounds like more fun to me!
- No, You Are NOT a Prude Because You Didn’t Sleep With Him.
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Don’t ever let any guy EVER pressure you into having sex before you’re ready. I don’t care if he’s naked in bed with you – if you’re not ready, just say so. It’s really okay and no one will think less of you for following your gut. Do what feels right and trust your instincts.
- Treat Yo’ Self!
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Why wouldn’t you indulge in the things that make you happy? Life is way too short not to enjoy it. If you’re craving a donut, eat the d*mn thing! Don’t restrict yourself because you’re afraid of calories. Your life will be very unfulfilling if you don’t indulge in life’s many pleasures. Take bubble baths, watch movies, eat calories and invest in YOU!
- Don’t Be Afraid to Ask For Help.
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Utilize your resources! Asking for help when you need it doesn’t make you weak or dumb, it’s a literal lifesaver that you should not overlook. There are so many resources and people here to help you with anything you need so use them! You’ll get the job done a lot faster, easier and more efficiently that way.
- Be Yourself!
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Don’t try to be someone else, you’re perfect as you are. This is so cliche but it’s true! Every single person in the world is their own unique, individual self. No one is the same so don’t try to change who you are for someone else. That’s just a waste of a perfectly wonderful personality.
- Making Mistakes is a GOOD Thing!
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No one knows what they’re doing without trying it out. People learn by doing things, making mistakes, learning from them and trying again. It’s not a failure, it’s a learning process – that’s how you learn and do better. So make as many mistakes as you can and learn from them so you can thrive!
- Stop Caring About What Other People Think
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Not far down the road, you likely won’t even remember any of these people, whose approval you so desperately seek. Don’t worry about other people’s opinions of you – they’re none of your business anyway. Just focus on yourself and tomorrow, next week, or next year, none of these things will even matter! These people might not even be in your life soon so why would you care what they think of you?
- Your Teachers Really DO Want to See You Succeed
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You may think your teacher hates you for giving you so much homework or for scolding you to pay better attention, but they are not your enemies – they care about you. It’s not that they’re trying to upset you, they just want to see you do well and they’re trying to prepare you for the real world. They’re just trying to make you tough so you can take care of yourself when they’re not there to guide you anymore.
- Pay Attention!
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Don’t waste your time there – participate and engage in class. Paying attention is so important so that you absorb information and actually understand what you’re doing! It sucks to feel like you have no idea what’s going on or to fail a test. Prevent that from happening by focusing on what you’re learning – it’ll make your life so much easier! You might be surprised by what you learn when you listen.
- Be Kind to Everyone, Especially Yourself.
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Don’t be so hard on yourself, you’re doing great and you’re learning, just like everyone else. Everyone has their own struggles and challenges so go easy on people and give them the benefit of the doubt. Help others and treat people the way you want to be treated.
- Love Yourself and Know Your Worth!
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Acknowledge your worth and know that you’re far more capable than you think you are. You are amazing in your own way and you should own it! Realize all the wonderful things about you, the talents you have and all the accomplishments you’ve made. There are great things ahead of you, I promise!
It’s okay if you don’t have everything figured out yet. Make mistakes, be yourself, and enjoy your journey. Life is all about perspective, so change your mindset, love yourself, and live your life!