Senior Farewell

As I look back over my high school experience, I am amazed by the growth and challenges that came my way. There is so much that I wish I’d known (and understood) when I started middle school and high school. While I can’t go back in time to give myself advice, I can advise the grades below me. If you were to ask me what the most important things I learned are, here is what I would tell you. 

1. Life is always getting in the way. Priorities will always shift, people will always change, and, if you are anything like me, you will mess up a lot. The most important thing that I have learned is that God is constant and he will get you through it. Don’t put your worth in what others think of you - or your grades. This was a challenge for me, as I always desired great grades and to be well-liked by everyone. However, when it really comes down to it, the only thing that was important was that I had a relationship with Jesus. I learned that my identity is in what Jesus says about me, not what a grade or another person does. So, my advice is to lean into Jesus and put less pressure on worldly approval. When you put others before God, it is easy to be consumed by the constantly shifting ways of life and anxious. Hold close to God and put your identity in Him; you will not regret it. 

   
   

2. It’s not that big of a deal. Getting a bad grade or doing something wrong isn’t as big a deal as you think it is. You will get hundreds of grades in school, and while it is important to always do your best, a few bad grades probably won’t keep you from living life the way you are supposed to. Also, the majority of times you answer a question wrong in class or do something embarrassing, no one will remember it. You may remember it, but a lot of people don’t focus on and remember everything that everyone else does. So, relax. It is okay to mess up.

   
   

3. Throughout school, you will feel overwhelmed, tired, anxious, stressed, worn-out, etc. This is the hard part of school. It is easy to zone out on your phone or find another way to not be present. However, the sweetest moments of high school for me did not happen when I was distracted or on my phone. The sweet moments you carry with you in life happen when you are fully engaged and interacting with others.

   
   

4. This last point is so important to me. Throughout high school, there will be so much noise. So many things will be trying to pull your attention, and it will be challenging. This is why it is so important to surround yourself with people who will help calm the noise, not make the noise louder. You don’t need twenty people to do this. I have a few close people in my life who, when I am around them, make it so that things don’t seem as bad or as crazy. Try to find these types of people. They will be your support system throughout middle and high school, so don’t take them for granted. The best memories I have from school are not the grades or my accomplishments, but the people who walked with me through it all. 

It all goes by so fast,  so remember to enjoy every second and have fun!