What I Would Change If I Could Repeat High School
When I first started high school, all I heard was how great the next few years were going to be. Going through that time in my life, I thought there was something wrong with me. I was constantly stressed and ready to graduate as soon as possible. Hindsight is 20/20, so there are a lot of things I would have done differently if I could go through those years again:
- Take grades less seriously
It is fantastic to try your hardest in your classes— that is what you’re there for. Unfortunately I became obsessive with my grades. I wanted to get 100% on every single assignment. This meant I spent long hours alone in my room studying when I could have been spending time with my family and friends. A 94% is still a great score that would not have hurt my grade point average. Striving for perfection only led me to disappointment and a boulder of stress on my chest.
- Join more clubs
My school offered an impressive amount of clubs, sports, and other activities. I wish I had pushed myself to try something new in an environment I was already comfortable in. Back then, I needed to loosen up and not be afraid of being a beginner at things that interested me.
- Tell my crush how I felt
Rejection hurts, but the “what ifs” have driven me insane. I was shy in high school and did not know how to handle my feelings. If I could go back, I would have told him how I felt instead of discussing it with my friends. I spent so many nights crying in my bedroom in high school anyway. If I had been rejected, at least I would have had some closure and a reason to eat ice cream.
- Challenge myself
I challenged myself to get good grades, but I hardly challenged myself to grow as a person. My comfort zone was suffocating me in high school. I should have taken the electives that piqued my interest, but I didn’t because I was terrified of the unknown.
- Talk to my teachers
Teachers are fountains of knowledge. I wish I had talked to them more about topics other than the class they were teaching.
- Expand my social circle
It was difficult for me to make friends growing up because of my shyness. High school provides countless opportunities to initiate conversations with new people. I wish I had taken advantage of those opportunities.
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