And just like that, it’s all over. What everyone tells you as freshman year begins, that high school goes by in a blink of an eye, is undoubtedly true, I think I remember my first day of freshman year as though it was yesterday and graduation seems like a thing of the distant future, not a week from now.
High school gets a bad rep, probably because it is associated with being awkward and kids being mean. However, I would say from experience it’s totally okay to feel awkward because it means that you’re getting out of your comfort zone. Also, the “awkward” and “embarrassing” things tend to turn into the most fun experiences and lasting memories, like everyone singing the national anthem, pretty horribly, at football games or screaming Taylor Swift at prom. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with having fun and being yourself. Uncomfortable experiences are also important in figuring out your own interests and boundaries. Junior year, I pushed myself to join Scratch Paper and Yearbook which both have helped me begin to get an understanding of what exactly I would like to pursue as a career. And for kids being mean, people are mean and awful everywhere, so don’t let someone you see for only a fraction of your life dictate what you make of it.
The best piece of advice that I think I can give is, just do it. Seriously, I have never regretted going to something on a whim, but I do regret missing out because I was tired or was prioritizing something that wasn’t social. Trust me when I say that your homework will be waiting for you when you come home, but watching the Blue Devils place second in state for basketball won’t be there for you after the fact. But this advice doesn’t even have to apply just to social opportunities. It’s the same way for classes. Last year, I took AP Physics 1 on a whim and ended both semesters with A’s, a class that I thought I was not nearly smart enough to take I ended up being fairly successful in. So don’t underestimate yourself, you can do it! But in all seriousness, work hard and have fun, this is a time that’s meant to be enjoyed.
Lastly, I would just like to say how impactful the Warren community has been to me. Maybe it is just maturity, but I finally realized that my actions were important and what I do really does make a difference, especially being kind. It doesn’t take much to ask someone how they are doing or what’s new in their life, and a lot of times it will make their day. On another note, I think school pride that I noticed at Warren strongly influenced where I chose to apply to college. A lot of students here go all out for games, specifically football. Even though it is incredibly annoying, the fact that you need to arrive an hour before the game starts to get into the student section speaks volumes about our school spirit. I sought out this type of culture for my next four years of school, applying to only Big Ten and SEC schools. I want to be just as proud of my university as I am to be a Blue Devil. Also, how supportive all of my teachers have been. There is no way I would be where I am now without their help, support, and excitement about what I do next, which I am so thankful for.
So, to any underclassmen reading this, I think there is nothing as rewarding or magical as the process of growing up, or “coming to age”. Sometimes it quite literally feels like the movies, the awkward moments, like when I was concussed freshman year and had to wear sunglasses to school for the rest of the year, to the unexpected triumphs, watching myself become a leader or even when I was accepted into the University of Michigan. Cherish these moments. But there comes a point where you sit back and reflect on how far you have come and suddenly Ribs by Lorde is a little too relatable, it really does feel so scary getting old.
