Things High School Taught Me
Hey guys,
So I graduated from high school on May 28th 2016. Though it still doesn't really feel like it happened, I know it did. You see I went to kind of a weird school. Our first two years were scheduled with 5 Core classes from 9a.m. to 4:15 p.m. (except on Fridays we had half days) and the last two years we were able to take College courses and spend most (if not all of our school time) on that campus.
Now in the fall I will be starting back with that same college, so really it doesn't feel all that different. Although when I actually start I know things will change as I won't be nearly as restricted as before and I won't have that safety net of my high school (plus I actually have to pay everything, which is a major down-side).
Anyway, I wanted to talk a bit about the things being in my school taught me--not those educational things that I'll never actually use--but the real stuff.
1.) Being nice is a good thing. Throughout all the four years I managed to steer clear of drama just by being nice to everyone. Obviously I ran into people I didn't really like, which is okay--no one was forcing me to befriend them. It is just a little common courtesy.
2.) Sometimes you have to speak up. If there is one thing I'm bad at (there are many things but this is just one) it's asking for help. This isn't just in an educational setting, this is all the time with family, friends, co-workers, etc. I have a horrible fear of asking for help. Why? I don't know. In my early years that was beyond the last thing I wanted to do, suffering in silence was how I got everything done (or nothing done at all really). That caused my grades to suffer a lot. Only really in my last year did I really start to come out of my shell and reach out, I think that partially came from maturing and partially came from just being thrown into a college campus with little to no prep.
3.) Friends aren't always forever, and that's okay. This is actually something I started learning in middle school but didn't solidify until high school. I had a small group of friends in middle school and I only talk to maybe two still today (another one again a little bit very recently). For the first couple years I was able to literally be around friends in every class (there were only like 50 something students in my class) and that made me feel comfortable and happy. But you see I am kind of the friend version of the one who "got picked last for kickball" which I've learned is okay for me.
The last couple years, while I was at the college, I realized seeing friends was harder when everyone had massively different schedules--we worked it out a bit but there was only so much we could do.
I live with the understanding that people grow up and change and sometimes they just can't work together anymore and that is okay.
4.) Don't wait until the last minute. DON'T, it's a bad bad bad bad idea. (I still do this, so this is a bit hypocritical). Getting stuff done early is so satisfying and makes life insanely less stressful--plus it lowers the risk that you'll forget about it. Every time I manage to get something done early I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders because that is one less thing I have to worry about.
Unfortunately I don't have any advice because any time I do the assignments early it is just because I felt like doing it. I was in the mood to be productive and BAM! I've done it.
So, um...good luck with that.
5.) Sometimes the worst parts are actually the best. This sounds ridiculous, I know. But the times that you think might be the hardest can turn out to be the moments with some of the best memories. Looking back at my first two years at my school, they were hard (especially the second year) much harder than my last two. But they were good. I got to know the people around me, I became a part of a community of people that I knew had my back (for the most part) if I needed them. Being stuck together in a double-wide trailer with 60 classmates will do that to you. Now, I wouldn't want to go back--hell no. That would be awful. But I like remembering the good times. As much as I liked getting into college at 16, I missed being close to my peers.
A week from today I start my first official year at college. This is kind of nerve-wracking. Despite the fact that I've been at this University for two years now, it feels so different this time. It doesn't make much sense but I feel like it's finally happening. I know this year is going to be different. I am an adult now. I had to pay (in loans and grants) to get into this school. I'm about to buy my books (with the remainder of the loan money). I bought my own expensive computer to help me through it (with all of my graduation money, plus a bit I saved from my job). It's a new take on an old story. This year it's real. It's scary. I am excited but so so terrified.
To anyone out there starting high school soon, even though I didn't go to a normal school I still feel like these things can help you. It really isn't so bad once you get the hang of it.
So I graduated from high school on May 28th 2016. Though it still doesn't really feel like it happened, I know it did. You see I went to kind of a weird school. Our first two years were scheduled with 5 Core classes from 9a.m. to 4:15 p.m. (except on Fridays we had half days) and the last two years we were able to take College courses and spend most (if not all of our school time) on that campus.
Now in the fall I will be starting back with that same college, so really it doesn't feel all that different. Although when I actually start I know things will change as I won't be nearly as restricted as before and I won't have that safety net of my high school (plus I actually have to pay everything, which is a major down-side).
Anyway, I wanted to talk a bit about the things being in my school taught me--not those educational things that I'll never actually use--but the real stuff.
1.) Being nice is a good thing. Throughout all the four years I managed to steer clear of drama just by being nice to everyone. Obviously I ran into people I didn't really like, which is okay--no one was forcing me to befriend them. It is just a little common courtesy.
2.) Sometimes you have to speak up. If there is one thing I'm bad at (there are many things but this is just one) it's asking for help. This isn't just in an educational setting, this is all the time with family, friends, co-workers, etc. I have a horrible fear of asking for help. Why? I don't know. In my early years that was beyond the last thing I wanted to do, suffering in silence was how I got everything done (or nothing done at all really). That caused my grades to suffer a lot. Only really in my last year did I really start to come out of my shell and reach out, I think that partially came from maturing and partially came from just being thrown into a college campus with little to no prep.
3.) Friends aren't always forever, and that's okay. This is actually something I started learning in middle school but didn't solidify until high school. I had a small group of friends in middle school and I only talk to maybe two still today (another one again a little bit very recently). For the first couple years I was able to literally be around friends in every class (there were only like 50 something students in my class) and that made me feel comfortable and happy. But you see I am kind of the friend version of the one who "got picked last for kickball" which I've learned is okay for me.
The last couple years, while I was at the college, I realized seeing friends was harder when everyone had massively different schedules--we worked it out a bit but there was only so much we could do.
I live with the understanding that people grow up and change and sometimes they just can't work together anymore and that is okay.
4.) Don't wait until the last minute. DON'T, it's a bad bad bad bad idea. (I still do this, so this is a bit hypocritical). Getting stuff done early is so satisfying and makes life insanely less stressful--plus it lowers the risk that you'll forget about it. Every time I manage to get something done early I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders because that is one less thing I have to worry about.
Unfortunately I don't have any advice because any time I do the assignments early it is just because I felt like doing it. I was in the mood to be productive and BAM! I've done it.
So, um...good luck with that.
5.) Sometimes the worst parts are actually the best. This sounds ridiculous, I know. But the times that you think might be the hardest can turn out to be the moments with some of the best memories. Looking back at my first two years at my school, they were hard (especially the second year) much harder than my last two. But they were good. I got to know the people around me, I became a part of a community of people that I knew had my back (for the most part) if I needed them. Being stuck together in a double-wide trailer with 60 classmates will do that to you. Now, I wouldn't want to go back--hell no. That would be awful. But I like remembering the good times. As much as I liked getting into college at 16, I missed being close to my peers.
A week from today I start my first official year at college. This is kind of nerve-wracking. Despite the fact that I've been at this University for two years now, it feels so different this time. It doesn't make much sense but I feel like it's finally happening. I know this year is going to be different. I am an adult now. I had to pay (in loans and grants) to get into this school. I'm about to buy my books (with the remainder of the loan money). I bought my own expensive computer to help me through it (with all of my graduation money, plus a bit I saved from my job). It's a new take on an old story. This year it's real. It's scary. I am excited but so so terrified.
To anyone out there starting high school soon, even though I didn't go to a normal school I still feel like these things can help you. It really isn't so bad once you get the hang of it.
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