By Jalyn Johnston
Four long years of your life that are made way harder than they should be = High School. I have learned a lot from other people’s mistakes, but there are some lessons that are uniquely yours, and nobody tells you what to do. Here are some tips to make life just a little easier during those years.
- Don’t start or condone drama and rumors.
If it doesn’t involve you directly, leave it alone.
- Just do your homework.
Trust me, it’s just easier to get it done. Get it done, keep up your grades, get help if you need it. It makes life go smoother and leaves a lot more room for fun if you get it out of the way.
- Figure out how to sift through the fake friends.
This process is different for everyone I’ve figured out. Figure out your standards of friendship and try to find the best group of people for you possible. Who you’re around really can shape who you are, so if you recognize yourself as sort of a follower then either fix that about yourself or choose people who you don’t mind being like.
- Don’t post every part of (you)r life on social media.
Vlogging, posting and snapchatting is cool and all, but it’s only cool until it hurts someone. And don’t send nudes kids, it’s illegal and not cute.
- (Similar to 4) Don’t tell everyone all your business, or anyone else’s.
There are some things just best kept private. Sharon in your algebra class first of all doesn’t care, and second of all doesn’t always need to know when you hooked up with that one guy. And you know you would hate it if Stacy from chem spilled the tea about your family drama, so don’t do it to her.
- Just be nice to people. (But don’t let people walk all over you either)
It makes life a lot easier if you’re just nice to everyone you meet, whether or not they deserve it. It builds a good reputation for you, you’ll be less stressed, and chances are you will have more friends.
- *This is a weird one* Smile when you make eye contact with someone.
I know, it’s awkward sometimes, but there is a real chance that you might make someone’s day because you were kind and didn’t scowl at them at the grocery store. Plus, if you’re wondering what’s in it for you, scientists have proven that smiling, even if it’s on purpose and disingenuous, you feel happier. So just smile 🙂
- Take time to get to know yourself.
Figure out what you want to do, you don’t have to know right away, you don’t even have to know by graduation. But figure out what you like, dislike, and what your passion is. If you don’t know that, then you’ll be stuck in a loop until you do.
- Just listen to your parents. Be with your family.
Go to the family dinner, the holiday celebration, spend time with them. Be home by curfew, let them know where you are. They just want to know you are safe, fed, and happy. After high school you don’t know how much time you’ll get to spend with them and if it’s not important to you as a 15 year old, it probably will be when you’re 20 and missing home.
- Have fun in high school, but know that it’s not everything.
There is life after 12th grade, and you need to remember that. Whether you’re a popular kid, band nerd, or a scholar, high school is not the end. Don’t base everything you do after graduation on what happened in highschool, you can change who you are, what you want and how you act, for good or bad. So just remember.
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