My Best High School Advice
“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character- that is the goal of a true education.” -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
I have finally graduated! It is crazy to even say that. I am so excited and so sad at the same time. I loved high school. I loved it so much I did five years of it…but in all seriousness I really did love it. However, it is not always easy or fun as the movies make it seem. And unfortunately I never did get the opportunity to sing and dance on the tables like they do in high school musical. I definitely had my fair share of bumps along the way. But if I had to give my little sister some of my best high school advice this is what I would emphasize most:
BE KIND TO EVERYONE. I actually cannot emphasize this enough. I promise you being nice always pays off. You don’t have to be best friends and hangout with everyone but you should always always be kind. I don’t need to go into how to be kind because you know but that is literally the most important thing in every situation even beyond high school.
Friends are more important than a relationship. Your friends from high school could last a lifetime but chances are the boyfriends won’t. This is the advice I would give to my sister and it is not always easy to hear. There are plenty of relationships that are wonderful and do last but I think a majority of them often don’t. Im not trying to say don’t date, but just make sure you don’t compromise your friendships for boys or girls. You can only have one boyfriend or girlfriend at a time but you can have infinite amounts of friends. The best part about friends is they don’t have to be your everything and your other half, they can simply just be a piece of your pie. If you have a boyfriend or a girlfriend it is so amazing but just make sure you make time for your friends too.
Have goals. Do you want to be the Student Body President? Get accepted into your dream college? Make a varsity sports team? Get the lead in the school play? You can! You honestly can do anything you want but you cannot do everything. This was a huge lesson for me in high school. I wanted to do it all. At the end of the day I couldn't, so I dedicated myself to the three of four things I really wanted and had fun with the rest. I really wanted to run the Boston Marathon, be elected the Student Body President, and get into my dream college. These areas are where I put so much of my time and energy and eventually I made those three things happen. However, I also wanted to be the captain of one of the varsity sports teams, I wanted to get a large role in the school musical, I wanted to get an award at the varsity sports banquet, I wanted so many things that I probably could have worked harder for and maybe even gotten. However, I would have had to sacrifice other things that I wanted and at the end of the day I had come to terms with that fact that I couldn’t do it all.
Do things that scare you. High school is about learning and growing and taking risks is a great way to do both of those. It is scary to try out for a play or a sports team, it is nerve-racking. But the risks pay off. I have always wanted to be in a musical, and so finally the spring of my senior year I tried out for Beauty and the Beast. I rehearsed with my mom, practiced the songs, I really was trying to get a biggish role. I knew I probably wasn’t going to get the lead…but I was not expecting to get….the napkin. Yes like what you wipe your mouth with. Real confidence booster am I right? However, I have had the greatest laughs about it, I pushed myself to do something that scared me and I definitely grew from that experience. If it doesn’t work out, there is always a good story to tell your kids later in life. You will only regret what you didn't try.
Get a class ring. I don’t think every school does class rings, but if yours does than you should get one! I love mine and I wear it everyday. Even yesterday I was getting a smoothie and I saw a girl with the same ring that we have at my high school. Turns out she graduated in 2014! I had so many friends that got them and were so so happy they did! You only get the opportunity once, and I recommend taking advantage of it!
Don’t kill yourself working for your next goal. This is a huge life lesson in general. I often find myself working for the next thing rather than full enjoying and appreciating the time that is present. High school is an experience. Obviously you want to do well so you can get into a good college but do not stress yourself out or create a horrible high school experience trying to achieve a better future for yourself. In the end, I don’t think any four years of college is worth four horrible years of high school.
Appreciate the custodians and lunch ladies/men. There is a wonderful article written by the former admissions director at Dartmouth called Check This Box if You’re a Good Person. In the article it discusses how a boy who applied to Dartmouth had one of his recommendation letters written by the school custodian. It talked about how the boy was genuinely good and kind even beyond the classroom. In the article she speaks about how the custodian wrote “This young man was the only person in the school who knew the names of every member of the janitorial staff. He turned off lights in empty rooms, consistently thanked the hallway monitor each morning and tidied up after his peers even if nobody was watching.” This goes back to my #1 piece of advice about being kind to everyone. A school is not just made up of students and teachers, it is made of up of so many behind the scenes workers, who often go unnoticed. Go above and beyond to give them the love and appreciation they deserve.
Have integrity. It is often much harder to do the right thing but at the end of the day it is always worth it. Your reputation is one of the MOST IMPORTANT THINGS. Be honest and do the right thing always. You are going to make mistakes but own up to them, learn from them, and move on.
Find people’s talents. You will not be the Valedictorian, #1 Athlete, Student Body President, Lead in the Musical, and Prom Queen. If you are…was your graduating class 1 person? Haha. No but what I am trying to say is that no one person has it all. We each have strengths and weaknesses. I cannot emphasize enough how wonderful it is to be friends with people who have complete opposite strengths as you. You may be able to give some great pointers on the golf corse but struggle tremendously with trigonometry. If you are kind to and friends with people who have a diversity of different strengths they will help you and you can help them. At the end of the day it is a team effort and any additional person your team can only add value.
Share with your parents. Obviously every home situation is different but at the end of the day parents are there to guide you and look out for you. They love you tremendously and just want the best for you. Share the good and the bad with them. It is not always the easiest thing to do but they are your number one supporters. I also found that the more I shared with my parents the more they trusted me and trust is THE BIGGEST THING in any relationship.
Learn how you study best. I am not in college yet, but I hear that one of the most critical things to have in college is a strong set of study skills. High school you have the time and resources to really figure out how you study best. Test out different ways and get a better understanding for how you work.
Appreciate it. Wow this is such a big piece of advice. We have so much to be grateful for. There are kids around this entire world that would give their arms and legs to receive an education. We grow physically by exhausting our muscles and I believe we grow mentally by exhausting our minds. High school is NOT easy at all, but almost nothing worth having is easy to obtain. You’re so lucky to have all that you do, don’t forget that.
Take as many pictures and videos as you can. We are so lucky to have such amazing technology, use it to remember the good and the even the bad. Memories are the most precious thing we have. Cherish and capture every moment you can.
There is honestly so many things I learned throughout my time in high school. I grew in almost every way possible and I am so grateful for my experiences. Thanks to everyone who made my time in high school so amazing and memorable. Don’t you wish we could go back? Me too!
Love Always,
Casey
