Things I Learned in High School

I'm gonna say this flat out: I pretty much hated high school. It was not for me. It was not catered to my learning style in any way. The only part of high school I enjoyed was choir and musicals. Besides that, high school was a daily chore for 4 years.

But I did learn a lot about myself and the world around me during that time. I've often been told I'm very mature for my age, which is why I'm writing this post, arrogantly thinking that anyone my age or younger would have anything to learn from it. I just think it' s always good to learn from other peoples' actions so you don't have to do the work for yourself. ;)

SO without further ado, here are some things I learned from high school. 

• Don't be afraid to ask questions. If you don't understand something, speak up. Even if no one else seems confused. Odds are, if you have a question, someone else probably has that same question. If the teacher makes you feel bad about asking a question, they are a jerk. 

• Learn to give and accept compliments. Giving sincere a compliment can be a great ice breaker for meeting new people, and will give off a good impression. If you have a good thought about someone, just share it! You'll brighten their day, and what's bad about that? But even more important, ACCEPT COMPLIMENTS PEOPLE GIVE YOU!! Nothing is more annoying than when you give someone a compliment, and they shove it off with a "oh my gosh no I look so bad today" or "no you're so much prettier than me" or things like that. It makes people not want to compliment you anymore. Be humble and gracious by saying a simple thank you.

• Be the helping hand that is needed. Simple acts of kindness can change someone's day and even life. Being a teenager is really hard. The world doesn't give teenagers enough credit. It's said that about 20% of teens suffer from depression before reaching adulthood, and only 30% of them receive treatment. If someone is struggling with something or just having a bad day, reach out. They might not show it, but they will definitely appreciate it. 

• Don't be afraid to talk to anyone. Most of the people that talk in classes aren't actually best friends, just acquaintances. Most people won't bite you if you try to talk to them. You'll get along with loads of different people you never expected to. Don't judge them on their appearance or your prior prejudices against them. Open your mind to people and put yourself out there. They probably won't become your best friend ever, but at least you'll have a friendly face to talk to in class. 

• Just bee yourself. There are other weirdos out there like you just waiting to be your friend. Promise. If you know me personally, you know that I am WEIRD. But I had lots of friends in high school! You do you and other people will do them and it will be great.    

• Don't overload yourself. You really don't HAVE to take PreAP and AP classes to get into college. I only took them freshman year, and I am going to Utah State University on scholarship. I think high school is about experiencing and growing just as much as it is about learning. Challenging yourself to learn more is important, of course, just make sure you leave room to make friends and memories. Let yourself enjoy the time you have in high school (like i didn't.) 

• Don't judge your worth or value on your popularity. I generally think people are awesome... but high schoolers can be JERKS!! Sometimes, people will decide they don't like you for absolutely no reason at all. It doesn't make sense, but it happens. You might not get a lot of likes on Instagram or followers on Twitter, but who the heck cares??? That's really not what life is about. Treat people well and you will see good outcomes. Don't worry about what they think. (I know it's easier said than done, but just give it a try.)

• Try your best to maintain a good relationship with your parents. When you're in high school, you gradually gain more independence. It's easy to forget that your parents know best. Once you get a license and a job, you start to think that you have it all. But you're gonna miss your parents when you leave for college. You're gonna miss their home-cooked meals and loving advice (AND MONEY). Don't argue with them and listen to them. You want to look back on your time with them with fondness. 

I hope my immature, post-high school advice proved insightful to you. Anyways,

I AM SO HAPPY I GRADUATED!!!! 

I'm out of here y'all, PEACE!