They say high school will be some of the best and worst years of your life—well, they’re right. Looking back on my high school experience, I have many regrets. Though I don’t view this in a negative light, instead, I’m grateful for it.

If there’s one thing I wish I’d done differently while in high school, it’s realize that I don’t have to please anyone but myself. I spent my early high school years befriending all the “right” people and trying to get on the good side of all my teachers. I wanted so badly to be liked by everyone I met. In doing so, I became someone I no longer recognized; I began to feel ashamed and embarrassed of who I was because, it turned out, not everyone liked me. My mission had failed. I walked into a room, and I kept my head down because I was no longer confident in myself, no longer confident in my strengths to carry me through hardships. Alongside my attempts to earn everyone’s affection, I shifted focus away from my academics, something that now has a great importance to me. I was so busy reconstructing myself, trying to gain others’ attention and approval, that I lost sight of who I really was and no longer performed in the classroom how I used to. I’ve always had a knack for schoolwork, it’s generally something I enjoy. But I had become a poor student. I no longer challenged myself; I no longer participated in class. I became extremely introverted, which was just one price to pay for becoming someone I knew I wasn’t. I developed such a fear of people disapproving of me that I avoided speaking to people who weren’t my friends. All that time I spent trying to be liked and gain others’ attention I just became even more insecure.

I wish someone had told me that these four years will fly by. Maybe then I wouldn’t have spent so much time on trying to please everyone else; I would’ve focused on myself. I wish someone had told me that by the time these four years are over, I will have realized that there’s an entire world out there waiting for me, a world where I can be whomever I wish to be. Part of the reason I wanted to fit in so badly is because I hadn’t seen the world—Calvert County was all I knew. But by the time I’d done some traveling, I realized that Calvert County is just a tiny piece of the world that’s waiting for me. So don’t worry about what everyone is thinking, more likely than not you’ll never see these people again. Plus, no one really cares that much about what you do anyway, unless it directly affects them—that’s the beauty of teenagers.

My advice to anyone struggling in high school is to remember that you are not alone in this. I know that is rather niche but it’s true, and many people find out much too late. More likely than not, the things you’re worrying about are someone else’s exact worries. The things you might be insecure about are likely shared by someone else; on the contrary, the things you may be confident in could be other’s insecurity. This brings me to my next piece of advice: please, please just be kind to those around you. It’s so simple and you’ll find it incredibly beneficial. I know too many people who are just plain cruel to those around them. Whether people do this because they’re afraid of seeming weak, or they want to impress others, it doesn’t matter. If you derive joy from putting others down, I have no respect for you. Not only is being kind so simple, but it also brings out the best in people. I remember my sophomore year I was becoming the kind of person I’d always hated. I was no longer kind. Sometimes I think I had a complex built around the belief that being feared is better than being loved. The minute I was able to recognize the less admirable qualities my “friends” possessed in myself; I knew I had to make some changes. So, I did, and it was not easy. But it was worth it.

My junior year, I reinvented myself. I left multiple friend groups and spent a lot of time alone. Most of this time spent alone I was trying to accept the fact that being alone was okay. It was perfectly normal for me to not be surrounded by phony friends or people who made me feel like I had to be a false version of myself. I knew perfectly well that I was being judged or mocked, but eventually that meant less and less to me. I had grown enough in my own, true skin to be aware of my strengths and my worth that if others couldn’t see it, that was their loss. All that time I spent alone, I learned two things: not fitting in is ok and what is meant for you will find you. It was late in my junior year when I found the people I felt immensely safe and myself around. These people are still in my life, and I see them every day. It took three years, but I found my people and it is so worth it, even for just a little while.

Another piece of advice I would give is to not take everything so seriously. Yes, you should pay attention in class, and yes you should respect your peers and administrators. But at the end of the day, your grades do not define you. Some people, me included, can get so caught up in performing well academically that they become overly stressed and struggle to find enjoyment in things they used to. You have four years to learn and grow your skills, so don’t stack everything up in one year to impress people or test your limits. I’m currently a senior and am juggling six AP classes (five classes, six periods) and I do not recommend you follow in my footsteps. Although I am prepared for college workloads and curriculums because I’ve now been exposed to those of similarity, the pressure of getting good grades is always lingering and I have very little time to myself. So please, do not feel pressured to do more than you’re able to because you think you must show off in high school. Remember, part of the point of high school is to enjoy it while it lasts. You should be broadening your mind, not stretching it to its limits.

My last piece of advice kind of piggybacks off the previous one. Don’t load your schedule with a bunch of things just to have a long resume. If you plan on attending university, know that colleges prefer to see you dedicate your time to one or two extracurriculars instead of spending a short time in six or seven. I know at a school like Huntingtown, joining clubs and sports is drilled into your head from the minute you step into the building. While I do think getting involved is incredibly beneficial, don’t go join a bunch of clubs if you aren’t sure you’re going to devote your time to them whenever necessary. In my sophomore year, I signed up for maybe five clubs, and now I’m graduating having played a huge part in only one—and I was accepted to five of six schools including the University of Maryland. Extracurriculars take a lot of work and dedication; weigh the pros and cons of adding sports practice or club time to your courseload. I know many people who don’t get enough sleep because practice runs late, and they have a job and a ton of homework to complete afterwards. Just don’t fill your plate with food if you’re going to throw most of it away.

Free education is a gift, and we oftentimes take it for granted. Here at Huntingtown, take advantage of the opportunities provided and the amazing staff who dedicate their lives to your success. You’re lucky if you can bond well with one or two teachers and make a few friends who’ll last a lifetime. Don’t make decisions you know you’re going to regret. Four years sounds like a long time, but it’s not. Make the most of it. Raise your hand in class, get to know teachers, eat in the courtyard with your friends, join a club, go on field trips, have fun. We lived through a pandemic; we’ve already had to make difficult transitions. Don’t make high school another one.

It is now that I bid a fond farewell to The Forecast. I’ll admit, I’m quite content to be leaving high school, but I will miss this paper and its staff a great deal. The Forecast has equipped me with forever friends and a mentor I’m endlessly grateful for. Not to mention the life skills I’ve learned. I take great pride in having been the Editor-in-Chief of The Forecast, and that is just a small testimony to what your high school experience can be. You have ample opportunities to foster incredible connections here. All you have to do is try.