I turned 16 last week and I thought I would take this blog post as an opportunity to reminisce. I found my middle school journal yesterday and I think it is safe to say I was very different. I’ve experienced a lot of growth, as a person and a student, so here are four things I would tell my middle school self:
- Create different friend groups
Hollywood movies have made us think that having a group of friends should be all you need. Yes, I did have that one group, and gave it so much importance that it became part of my identity. Losing that group of friends was hard by eye opening. I realized that decisions were never made as a single individual, but rather by the group. If you made your own decision, it wasn’t received well, turning the environment sour. Afterall, we’re all going through puberty and learning to be young adults; this can make things cantankerous and toxic as a result of lacking maturity among teenagers. Different friend groups will help you cater to different aspects of yourself so don’t be afraid to branch out.
- Competition is healthy, but not everything
Humans thrive off competition, it’s true. The problem that then emerges is that of unhealthy competition: friendships break, people cheat, and lie. In school, the most common question is, “What’s your GPA?” While it is everyone’s goal to get the highest score, it’s more important to get the highest score you can and you will be proud of. There will always be someone ahead, and someone behind. Compete to push yourself, but be happy for those who might excel more. Letting others’ success impact you will reverse your positive approach to competition. Being successful in school goes beyond the highest grades.
- High School is not High School Musical
The glitz and glamor of perfectly dressed high schoolers does not exist. People will not break into dance, they will not always have perfect hair, eyebrows, or outfits. In fact, looks are not everything. This is high school, not a beauty pageant. It’s crucial for us to remember that real life is not reel life.
- You’re not expected to know what you want
I have gone through about four different stages over my school career thus far. From drawing, to photography, to english, and psychology, my interests are always changing. School is the best place to explore your interests with the guidance of your teachers. Having found my joy for writing, I started this very blog that has now become my exploration of mental health and its manifestations in our minds. Keep an open mind for there is so much to explore and experience!
matcha for the mind 