Final Four

So, I was going to wait to post this until a little later in the season, closer to the school year, but I realized that a lot of extracurricular activities start in the summer- and that summer flies by! So, sorry to all my readers whom this particular post won’t apply to as much, as it is the only one I’m doing this week with life being as busy as it’s been for me lately and I haven’t had a ton of time to write, but feel free to share this with anyone you think could use it and be on the lookout for more content for yourself next week! But for those of you this one does apply to…

If you’re going into your freshman year of high school, you may be pondering questions such as, “will school be much different than last year? Will it be harder? What will it be like?” It can be an exciting and nerve-wracking time all at once. You’re getting older, close to becoming a young adult, about to embark on the last few years of your required school years. There will soon be decisions to make about the future, more responsibilities handed over to you, and opportunities to pursue. But right now the future may look uncertain and you might have more questions than answers. I’m not here to tell you exactly how things will go for you, or what decisions you should make about college, or that high school is a breeze. I’m going to be honest and give you some advice and let you know you’re not alone!

The first thing I want to let you know is that high school is still school- it’s not an entirely different world and it’s not college. Maybe some of the courses will be harder and your grades may matter more for graduating and college, but it’s still just school. Don’t let it intimidate you! I will warn you, a lot of the work will probably be preparing you for college, even if you’re not planning to go. I would get annoyed when I’d be listening to a lecture and the teacher would constantly talk about how what he was teaching me how to do was what they’ll have you do in college. It felt like it was kind of wasting my time because I wasn’t planning to go to college and isn’t that what college was for? To learn things you’d only need in a specific field? So don’t be surprised if you’re being taught things only in preparation for further education only some people plan to pursue. I’m not saying it’s all unimportant stuff to know, but it can feel pointless. This leads to my next point:

Be willing to grow! Pay attention to what you’re learning. Take the information in and remember what you can. I love it when I recall interesting facts I learned in school! What you’re taught is meant to go with you well into your future. However, be discerning and don’t just accept anything you’re being taught. Think about whether or not the things you’re being told sound right and true, and do your own research if you feel so inclined. I would be doing research for a report and find things in books and other resources that sounded questionable, so it’s important to find out the truth about things! It can be tempting to study for a test just to get a good grade the next day, and I won’t say I never did this, but one day you may regret not taking the time to learn the material. As they say, knowledge is power! Looking back, I realize that parts of that course I thought was irrelevant proved to be more valuable than I expected later on, even though I didn’t go to college. Just sayin’. (-;

Apart from the actual course work of high school, I would advise making the most of these next four years! Try new things, like sports and musical instruments, keeping in mind that if you don’t like it you don’t have to do it again. Of course, don’t try bad things, but don’t be afraid to spread your wings and learn new skills and increase knowledge! You may make mistakes, but that’s how you learn. Just like a baby learning to walk, you may fall several times before finally getting the hang of it, and soon you will be a pro! Also, hang out with friends and have fun and go to the football games and support your buddies who are in the musicals and reach out to the lonely and be a good role model for the younger kids and make high school memorable! Be safe and stay out of trouble. Don’t give in to the pressures of others. Bad choices can ruin your high school experience and affect you and others well into the future. Embrace the in-between time of being a carefree kid and responsible adult! You won’t get these years back.

Finally, heed your parents’ advice. Although you are smart and growing up and maturing, your parents have so many more years of experience and mistakes than you do, and they want what’s best for you. You may not always agree with them, but their wisdom is more valuable than you probably realize right now. And if you don’t have that kind of loving parental figure in your life, be on the lookout for a mentor- someone who will look out for your interests and be a guiding light in your young adult life. You may find one in a pastor, Bible study leader, coach, aunt, uncle, or neighbor, but try to look up to those who have your best interests at heart and are a good influence on those around them.

I know that change can be hard and the unknown can be scary, but don’t worry! In reality, high school will be over sooner than you think. And you won’t get it back. So go into it with head held high, work hard, and embrace the next four years of teenagering! Best wishes!