23 Oct 2017

I can confidently say that high school has not been the best time of my life. My parents definitely had a hand in making the experience a lot easier, and sometimes a little harder–in the end they kept me sane. Despite all the times they helped me through, there are still a lot of things that I wish my parents had said to me during high school; sometimes they just didn’t have the right words.

1. Quality over quantity always applies

It’s very easy for your brain to get way too filled with information, like when you study for an exam, but it’s no help when the useless info sticks and the syllabus doesn’t. Same goes for friendships; there’s no point filling your schedule with people and things just for the sake of it. Quality is always more important than quantity, always. Fill your schedule with things you love doing rather than things for the sake of seeming busy.

2. It’s okay to drop toxic people

Through high school I had this idea that I had to stick by people, regardless of how shit they were, just because we’d been friends since kindy and promised to be best friends forever. I wish my parents had told me it’s okay to break up with people, and it’s not worth your time to force friendships that aren’t working in the first place. Same goes with relationships; if you’re not happy, drop them.

3. The stress might get to you and that’s okay

Everyone who isn’t in school can forget what it’s like. They put on their rose-tinted glasses and tell you to pull yourself together, grow up and you’ve got it easy. You’ve heard it all before, but here’s what I wish someone had said: it’s hard and sometimes you will cry, sometimes you will break down and sometimes you will scream. It’s okay–everyone reacts to stress differently and you’re not losing it. You’ll figure it out and push on.

4. Make the most of your year of lasts

If your parents were anything like my parents, you were pretty much allowed to make your own decisions when it came to sports events or school camps; your ‘rents weren’t going to force you to get involved. While sometimes it might be easier to just cruise along and do the bare minimum to get by, you’re going to regret sitting out on things like your last athletics carnival ever. Do as many things as you can in your final years so that when you’re graduating Year 12, you’ll have those memories with your friends and teachers to look back on.

5. I understand what you’re going through

Enough said. A little sympathy is always appreciated.

6. It’s okay to quit if you need to

At the start of Year 11, I committed to an ATAR chemistry course. At the end of Year 11, after months and months of tutoring, I got 17% in my chem exam. It’s fair to say there was no saving me. Throughout this somewhat traumatic experience, I heard the phrase ‘you just have to stick with it’ almost daily. After crying and arguing for what could have been a lifetime, I quit the course and it was the best decision for me. Your parents and teachers want the best for you, but sometimes the healthiest choice is to cut yourself some slack and know when to call it quits.

7. I’m proud of you

The biggie that we all want to hear; I’m proud of you. Sometimes, the courses that you choose won’t be what your parents want, sometimes you’ll have to quit, or you’ll fail an exam even though you studied your ass off. You might be scared that what you’re doing is disappointing your parents but remember, even making it through high school is an achievement in itself and there will always be someone who is proud of you.