High School is an awkward, unforgiving, and emotional time for everyone- and nobody makes it to Graduation without a few (hundred) mistakes. I believe it is those “mistakes” that give us the most character, and provide us with some of the greatest life lessons. I believe your biggest mistakes can turn into your greatest blessings, if you’re willing to face your past and learn from it.
I’m sharing with you 5 of the best mistakes I made in High School and how they helped me become the person I am today. Hopefully this inspires you to turn your regrets into achievements and move forward with your hard earned wisdom.
Trying to Win 'Best Dressed'
Spoiler alert: I didn’t win.
Honestly, I was upset about this for quite a bit longer than I’d like to admit. I put a lot (maybe too much) effort into the way I dressed in High School. I never even wore the same outfit twice, as some sort of sadistic rule I set for myself. When I found out I did not win best dressed I was honestly pretty crushed- and equally embarrassed for even trying. It took some time and perspective to realize I should be proud of the fact that I put effort into something, even if it was just a pointless Senior superlative. I think that any time you practice going after something you want it should be celebrated. Having ambition is important, even if it’s directed towards something that won’t matter two months from now. It may sound silly, but I’m glad I practiced persistence. Sure, the superlative is meaningless at the end of the day but I’m glad that I put my heart into it, because that’s better than being the kind of person who doesn’t care about anything, in an effort to look “cool”. You should never regret time that you spent caring about something in this world.
Getting Involved in Drama
These days I prefer to get my drama fix from reality TV shows and TMZ, but in High School I was a sucker for the pointless, petty drama that circulated the halls. There was an adrenaline rush that came from involving yourself in teenage drama and it was so easy to get tangled up in it- mostly because we had nothing better to do at sixteen years old. I know now that most drama is constructed out of pure boredom, and how to detect when someone is just fishing for a reaction. Today, I know that passing along rumors is just as harmful as starting them. I’ve learned that lies are hard to keep up with and words can ruin reputations. I remember how easy it was to fuel hostile situations, and I also remember how much it hurt to be the one everyone was talking about. I learned a lot in high school about the harmful, and hurtful, effects of getting involved in drama- and I carry those lessons with me into the workplace now. I concerned myself with way too much inconsequential drama as a teenager, but now as an adult I know how to avoid hostile situations- and the people that create them.
Going to Every School Dance
I walked into every school dance fashionably late, tragically overdressed, and unfortunately naive. I carried such high expectations for every Spring Fling and Winter Formal because somewhere along the lines I developed the notion that High School dances were the key to everything. Blame it on movies, or television shows, or nauseating pop songs- whatever the reason, I expected to have the time of my life those dances. Of course we all know that the best nights aren’t spent at chaperoned events listening to Wonderwall on repeat- but in High School I was convinced otherwise.
I’m sure it comes as no surprise that I left disappointed every time- but that’s okay. I’m not embarrassed by the fact that I went to nearly every high school dance, hoping for something grand. My mom said something to me once, after she picked me from one of those dances, that really stuck with me. She said, “Good for you for believing something big can come out of something as ordinary as a High School dance.” She reminded me that it’s okay to care about “stupid” things, or to have hope in something that everyone else has already written-off.
When we grow up we are taught that there is a lot of value in learning how to “not care.” After a breakup, we tell ourselves that the person who stops caring first, wins. It’s “cool” to be cynical and pessimistic and to always know better. Well, I’m proud of the fact that I cared about some “trivial” school sanctioned social event. I’m proud that I walked into every high school dance with high hopes and lip gloss.
Going Boy Crazy
I was constantly chasing after immature boys that treated me poorly- and then crying hysterically when they didn’t like me back. I spent way too much time trying to orchestrate ways to “casually” run into my crush in the hallway, and I worried more about scoring a prom date than I did about test scores. In hindsight, I should have prioritized better, and stopped caring so much about high school boys- but ultimately, I’m actually pretty glad I made that mistake. I got it out of my system, at an age when it was socially acceptable, and eventually moved on to bigger and better things. I know better now- but that’s only because I made the mistake and learned from it. In college, I knew that my time was better spent on internships, passion projects, professional development, building new friendships…basically anything other than boys. Sure, a thousand different people could have told me that exact same thing- but some lessons you just have to learn for yourself. I’ve learned that it’s important to have acceptance for yourself, and your mistakes, because otherwise we build up heavy baggage in the form of regret which is toxic to your mental health. Spending too much time worrying about boys, as a teenage girl, is certainly not the worst mistake you can make- I found no reason to be ashamed of that time in my life.
Make a Huge Deal Out of Graduation
During my final year of High School, I was completely consumed by all of the senior year traditions. Senior sunrise, school prank, pep-rally, prom, senior trip, and graduation parties. I thought the whole world revolved around me and my high school graduation.
I’m glad I put so much importance into graduation, because I know that I made the most of that time in my life. I didn’t miss a single Senior event, pep-rally, school dance, or social gathering, as a result. Looking back, I have so many memories from that time, and I’m glad I didn’t think I was “too good” for those things. I’m glad I spent weeks trying to plan out what I wear to Graduation because even though it seems trivial now, at that time in my life it was my entire world. I’ve grown up since high school and now I have plenty of more important things to stress over, so I’m glad I enjoyed a time when I had to worry about was a graduation dress.
I challenge you to think of 5 “stupid decisions” that you’re thankful you made.
And accept your past.
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