6 Things I Learned in High School

For the record, I was in fact the one who graduated.

High School.

Otherwise known as 720 days of hell (as stated by my mother). The stepping stone between puberty and adulthood. What an experience. Maybe you love it─maybe you hated it. Or maybe you're still roaming the halls of the high school. In that case─I'm sorry. There are better days to come, I promise.

I may have only graduated two months ago, but it's been enough time to realize a few things.

While I can't say I'll remember the name of every element, or the exact number of bones in the human body, I did walk away from the experience with a few key takeaways I won't soon forget.

1. A little humor goes a long way.

Senior year, I saw the same girl─in the same bathroom, at the same time─every single day. We didn't have any classes together, hadn't really talked before, but one day she smiled and said "Fancy seeing you here." The first of many sarcastic comments between the two of us. That little bit of humor connected us, if only for three seconds every day.

Sometimes you just gotta pull out a little sarcasm here and there.

2. You can't please everyone.

It doesn't matter what you do, you'll never make everyone happy. So don't try. Don't force it upon yourself to be the hero in every situation, it'll just wear you out. Do seek to lift others up, you'll find yourself being lifted as well. However, don't take it personally when someone thinks your attitude is too-good-to-be-true. Sometimes you just can't win.

3. Your parents might actually know what they're talking about─on the occasion.

That's right, I said it. Maybe your parents have had a few crazy ideas, but there's usually a bit of truth to what they're saying.

When Mom said it was too cold to wear shorts, she was right.

When she told me to wear sunscreen at the beach, she was right.

When she said I shouldn't ride the wagon down the hill, SHE WAS RIGHT.

However, when she said that one bowl of ice cream was enough, she was in fact wrong.

4. Not every friendship is meant to last.

This can be a tough one to grasp. With time comes change, and eventually even the best of friends can begin to drift apart. It might happen gradually, or one morning it just might hit you square in the face. Sometimes you won't understand, you really won't. You may have thought you had it all together, but know that it often takes a bit of distance to truly realize that maybe things are better this way.

As with any relationship, friendship is a two-way street. I've come to realize that the relationships I cherish the most are the ones in which I not only find myself receiving, but giving as well.

5. Some things are better left unsaid.

Okay, this is a big one. Even if your best bud's school picture didn't turn out so hot, you don't have to tell them that. If it's really that bad─they already know, trust me.

Gossip is really big in high school. I found that many people used it as a mechanism to try and fill their empty silences. A word from the wise: if someone is sharing another person's dirty secrets with you, chances are, they're sharing your secrets with other people too, whether they be true or not.

6. There are people all around you. Talk to them.

This world is full of living and breathing human beings around you. Acknowledge that fact. Smile, say hello, and if you know their name, include that in there too.

People always say that a simple smile goes a long way. And truthfully, it does. I can't be the only one who appreciates a little acknowledgement here and there.

With that said, you're never going to notice a genuine smile if you're always avoiding eye contact. I know you don't want it to get awkward, because I certainly don't want it to get awkward either. But if you're talking with someone, make an effort to look them in the eye. Now I'm not saying you have to stare them down, because then it really would be awkward. Allow as much eye contact a you're comfortable with. And if you don't quite have it in you to take a peek at on of those eyeballs, try starting with the forehead.

Baby steps people, baby steps.

[Interested in reading more? Check out the Blog Archive to the right to find links to my other posts.]

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