My High School experience definitely had some mixed reception. At times it was a fun experience without a worry in the world, and at other times, it was the most stressful point of my life. Still, there’s no use in staying stuck in the past, what matters now is sharing my experiences and offering advice to those coming after me.
I kept a fairly low profile during school. I didn’t join any sports teams or clubs; my main focus was just keeping up a decent GPA. I remember freshman year being a bit goofy. In my freshman year I went the whole year without a chromebook because my old middle school requested it back and Parkdale assumed I still had one, until I explained in sophomore year that my old school had been torn down for renovations. Another thing I did was start a little hustling business where I sold Honey buns and other snacks that I would rotate every week. I got caught and was told to stop my business, but not before I had enough money to buy a Nintendo Switch.
Sophomore Year was a blur; I had a class I dreaded going to every B day, had my service hours completed, and found my favorite teacher in the school. Junior year almost fell into the same boat, but in that year, one of my friends played match maker with me and hooked me up with a lesbian. Funniest Icebreaker I have in my catalog.
Senior year finally came, it was when I officially turned 18 where life hit me too hard. I got my first job, lost it in 9 days, had to plan out which college to go to, gained another job but the work hours have completely drained my soul. Only now, as high school comes to an end, do I fully appreciate how much of a privilege those years actually were.
These are my final remarks: don’t stress about getting a job unless you really need the money. Your main focus should be school. Sure, some classes might feel unbearable, but beyond the academics, take time to enjoy the people around you, your friends, the teachers who made an impact, and the fleeting feeling of youth. If money is an issue, consider selling snacks, if you’re consistent and reliable, it can actually work out well. I might sound like an old man saying all this, but that’s only because adulthood hit me hard and fast. It’s different for everyone, but this message is meant for anyone willing to listen.
