The biggest piece of advice I can give is that time flies. All the memories and experiences I have had over the last four years have flown by, which makes leaving so much harder.
I feel like my time in high school has slipped out of my hands, which is why, although it sounds cheesy, I would tell my freshman year self to soak up every little moment and make every moment count.
High school is supposed to be some of the best and most significant years of your life. Although for many it’s also their most awkward phase, high school still shapes you into the person you are today. While “time flies” is my main piece of advice, I have subparts to it, the first one being that you need to get involved!
Throughout my high school years, I joined the cross country and track and field team, I joined Journalism, I joined clubs, I went to school sports events, and I became involved, which is how I made so many memories and met so many people. If I had just stayed at home and not gone out to things and put myself out there, I never would have met my best friends. Getting involved is so important, as it is how you make the most of the little time you have.
Cross country and track and field, to start, have basically given me a second family. I have dedicated so much to this sport and learned so many amazing things. I learned dedication, teamwork, and how to be a mentor. I learned what it’s like to do things for others rather than yourself!
Deciding to join Journalism has also been one of my greatest accomplishments throughout high school. Through this class, I worked my way up to the top to become Editor-in-Chief. I learned so many new ways to write and to have fun while writing! I also enhanced my organization and leadership skills.
It is through going outside of my comfort zone and trying out new things that I was able to do all this!
My second piece of advice is to work hard. Throughout my college application process, I realized that hard work most definitely pays off (it is not just a myth). By my junior year, I started to really focus on college and doing things that would set my application apart from others. I really focused on taking the hardest classes but also maintaining a high GPA, having good extracurriculars, a good SAT/ACT score, volunteer hours, leadership roles, and so much more. Although this definitely helped my application, there was only so much I could do, and I was already two years into high school.
This is why I beg all of you to start early! Take those hard classes in your freshman and sophomore years. Do things that will set you apart early on, so that it is spread out throughout all four years on your transcript, and you are not cramming and stressing everything into one year. I even recommend taking your SAT/ACT as many times as you need until you are satisfied with your score. It all matters!!
I will be attending Clemson University next year, and I am so incredibly excited. Even so, it was not my top choice, and if I put in even a little more effort throughout my high school years, I could have ended up somewhere else.
However, this brings me to my last major piece of advice: do not overstress yourself and enjoy what you have. College is important, but it should not be your only focus. I feel that sometimes schools/teachers/guidance counselors put too much emphasis on everything that leads up to college, taking away from the fun high school moments. Which is why you need a good balance between your academics and social life, both are very important for one’s well-being.
So have fun, because time really does pass you by, and the next time you blink, you will find yourself walking at graduation.
