Sometimes, its easy to look back, and sometimes, it’s not. High school was such a crazy, emotional, transitional time for me. There are times, I really, really don’t like looking back and there are other times, and I am beyond overjoyed to reminisce in those times. Here’s everything I know now, that I wish I knew then…
Dear sweet, little, 14 year old Tiffani,
High school is going to be crazy, you have no idea the crazy ride you’re about to go on. Walk in those doors on the first day of school and just be you. Cherish the times you spend with the friends you’ve had for the last three years, they’re going to be around for a long time to come. There’s going to be new friends, new faces, and a whole lot of new situations. You’re at the top of your soccer game right now, don’t stop. Work just a little harder in everything you’re doing. You’re a freshman, don’t try and be anything more than that. Stay true to the friends you’ve had since you were in elementary school. This year is not going to be a good “new-friend” year for you. School is going to bore you, but that’s not an excuse to get lazy. When boys begin coming around, ignore them! Boys are absolutely awful for you this year. Things will quickly become shady, friends, boys, school. You’re going to decide to make one of the biggest changes of you life, and while it may not seem beneficial right now, it will help you more than you ever know.
Yay! You’re a Sophmore! Well, it may not seem so great right now. A brand new school, in a totally new town. You went from having a class of 400 to a class of almost 900, don’t freak out. Life is going to be so so hard right now. Sitting alone at lunch, and hanging with your family is NOT the end of the world. Focus more on soccer, becoming the best player you can be, and school… After all, your club team just won Nationals! Colleges are starting to contact you, don’t say yes to the first one, be patient. It’s been a hard year in just about every way for you. As the school year begins to come to an end, you’ll meet a boy and your friendships will begin to flourish. Cherish the friendships, they’ll help guide you through a lot of hard times, and as for the boy, be careful. Oh and congrats on your first job! You’re going to LOVE it!
Junior year rolls around, you’re still with that boy you met at the end of your Sophomore year. You have an amazing summer with your friends, and are pumped for a new school year. It’s a complete flip from the year before. Enjoy new friendships and cherish your old ones. When things start going south in relationships, just cut the ties and move on. Staying in any kind of toxic relationship is not good. What you think is “heartbreak” is going to consume you in the fall, really, it’s just one giant warning sign. You’re going to lose your best friend, and a few others towards the end of the year, all because of one toxic relationship. SNAP OUT OF IT GIRL! You are too good to put up with anything less than being treated like a princess!
Senior year is HERE! Technically, you’ll only be a Senior for just shy of 5 months, graduating early is going to be the best decision you’ve ever made! You have a great friend base, and your new-ish job position is so much fun, $10/hr is freaking awesome! Your migraines are really going to become an issue this year, hospitals will become your second home, and school is going to be tough as hell. Talk to your teachers, get caught up quick and take your medicines, the end is near! That toxic relationship is progressively becoming more and more toxic, but you will soon realize that. Happy 18th birthday girlfriend, you’re finally an adult, you’ve finally gotten rid of that toxic relationship and you are OUT of high school and it’s only January! You’ll be starting college an entire semester early and entering a whole new world! Enjoy a few new flings as you enter college because spice is the variety of life. You are soon going to find your greatest passion, in one of the strangest ways. You’re technically out of high school but you haven’t officially walked across that stage yet. Don’t rush it, enjoy the last few weeks before your official graduation. Using this time to connect with old friends, enjoy good company. Embrace the new boy in your life, don’t be afraid of the distance between the two of you, he could be (IS) Mr. Right, and he’s going to show you how you should have been treated all along! You did it. You made it to the end. Congratulations.
There were times, you really felt like you weren’t going to make it to the end. These four years seriously flew by, and I wish I could say the next four are going to slow down, but they don’t, not even a bit.
High school was a crazy ride, and there’s no way I’d ever want to do it again, but I learned so much about not only myself but the world in general. I wouldn’t trade those 4, long years, for anything!
