What have I learned over the past four years of high school? I have thought about this question a lot throughout the past few weeks and am just now starting to realize all of the wisdom that I have gathered over the past 17 years. My wisdom may be simple, yet discovering it has shaped me into the happy person I am today.

My dad has always told me that good things happen to good people. I never really thought much about this until this month. I have always tried to do what is right and to push myself to grow as a person. At times I have definitely fallen short, but I have also seen the long term effects of striving to make good choices. I now have a certain confidence in the decisions that I make and a peace that comes whenever I make good choices that may not necessarily be the most popular.

Through the years of hard work I have often doubted if all the stress and the hours slaving over school work would be worth it. I am here to ensure you that it is. Looking back knowing that I worked my hardest and strived for so many goals is so worth it. Working hard is as much about the process as it is the final reward. I have felt happier knowing that I tried my best and that I don’t have to live with regret with the choices I have made.

High school is an experimental ground for discovering who you are. There are so many people telling us what is cool and what is not that it is hard to keep up. I have seen that over the years everyone starts to finally come into their own and people really do begin to diversify. I personally have seen in myself how much happier I have been when I am comfortable in my own skin. The key to having fun in high school is chasing after whatever you love and creating your own unique identity.

I would not say that I have been an expert at navigating high school, however by making good choices, working hard, and being myself I have tackled four years of high school with confidence while also having fun.