Well, as many of you realize, I graduated from my fine arts school this year. Although my plans for next year are a little complicated (if you know me personally, ask me and I'll tell you all about it. If you're just a random stranger on the internet, just take my word for it because I'm not going to tell you details.), I am essentially starting a new stage of my life next year. But, as I reflect back on my past four years of life, I've realized just how much I have learned. So, here are ten important truths I've learned about high school. Please keep in mind that some of these aren't Biblical truths or anything like that; they're just practical, obvious, or nonsensical facts of life. Let's get started...
1. Take a walk (duh duh duh duh DUH, duh duuuh duh... only people who listen to Passion Pit will understand that).
Literally, I mean take a walk. If you're having a bad day for any given reason, just get up and move. I know lots of kids who will deal with their troubles by thinking about them repeatedly, listening to music, or writing them down. While all of these things are great, I've found that exercising in some way or form works A LOT better. I don't have a scientific explanation for this even though I know there are lots of them out there; just do it and you'll understand.
2. Realize that most Disney movies are secretly aimed towards high school students.
There's nothing like sitting down and watching Emperor's New Groove, Lilo and Stitch, or Mulan just for kicks. You'll discover a lot of jokes that you never understood until now.
3. Be strange and own it.
If you decide in your heart to be tastefully different and do it in an unashamed manner, you will probably find awesome friends. Some of my best high school memories with friends include singing songs from the musical Annie while at the top of a roller coaster, spontaneously dancing in a parking lot at midnight, wearing renaissance clothing to school just because, and having wet napkin-throwing wars with friends in another car while at a stop light.
It's much more fun than doing whatever normal people do in high school.
4. Understand that your views of people will change a lot.
Some of my best friends today were some of my greatest annoyances a year or two ago. A few people that I only consider my acquaintances right now were my buddies at the beginning of high school. That's the way it is, so don't put too much weight on your current good friends. Take each moment in your friendships as they come and don't be easily offended.
5. Understand that people will change a lot.
The really angelically nice kid you know now could become a jerk by his senior year and the irritating, freshman brat that peeves everyone might just be the coolest girl you've ever known when graduation comes around. Don't ever believe that peoples' behaviors right now are the be all, end all of life.
6. Understand that friendships shouldn't just be about you.
This is the application of truths #4 and #5. Because people are constantly changing and your view of them is constantly changing, you will be sorely disappointed if you are only trying to make your own life better through friendships. Instead, see how you can benefit others. How can you INVEST in your current friends? Ask questions during conversations instead of just talking about yourself, pray for your buddies, and do spontaneous things for them. If your friendships aren't just about you, then when your friends mess up or change, you won't be nearly as frustrated with them.
Ecclesiastes 4:9 says,
"Two people are better off than one, for they can HELP EACH OTHER succeed."
Notice that it doesn't say,
"You are better off with friends because they will make YOUR life better."
It's a two-sided deal.
7. Invest in people that really matter.
In the summer of 2012, my sophomore year, my parents left for a week-long trip to Bermuda. My brother and I had the opportunity to spend half of the week with some of our good friends that we've known for years and the other half with our grandparents. However, instead of enjoying my time with my brother, my good friend, and my grandparents, I spend a good amount of the week texting some of my friends from school. When I look back on that week, I realize something sad; I don't remember anything that I did with my grandparents or my good friends. The only memories from that week are the text conversations I had with my temporary buddies. Today, I'm not keeping in touch with any of those friends. So, here's my challenge to you: put down your phone for an afternoon and spend time with your siblings. Decide to send a "what's up" text to one of your cousins who lives across the country instead of scrolling down your news feed again. Get in contact with an old friend rather than sending yet another text to that someone that you're temporarily interested in.
I'm not saying that it's bad to invest in temporary friends. I just think that it's also very important to upkeep friendships and family relationships that really matter.
8. Stay attentive to God's calling for your life.
You will change a lot during high school. God won't. Malachi 3:6 says this clearly,
"I, the LORD, do not change."
So, keep good habits such as daily devotions. Pray and read your Bible regularly. It's elementary, my dear Watson. By keeping your eyes on God, you won't be so focused on the storm around you.
9. Don't be a drama queen.
So many teenagers like to dramatize everything. Don't be that person. If you can appropriately add #firstworldproblem to a description of your current issue, then stop telling everyone about it.
"Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again- rejoice!"
Philippians 4:4
If Paul could write this during one of his many stays in prison, then there's no doubt that you can be joyful in every situation that life throws at you.
10. Have fun while staying busy.
Join clubs or teams that allow you to have fun with friends WHILE doing something useful with your life. Marching band did this for me and I absolutely loved being able to spend time with friends at football games, band competitions, car washes, and Dairy Queen visits. It's better to be doing useful things with friends than to just "hang out". Unoccupied idleness is never good in the teenage world. I've seen some of the best, upstanding kids get into trouble, simply because they were bored or restless at unstructured social events or get-togethers.
So, there they are, the ten things I've learned over the past few years. I'm continuing to learn some of these lessons even now and I hope that we all can continue to take them to heart throughout the rest of our lives- especially #2, because no one is ever too old for Disney.
