The first thing I learned before I entered high school in the oh-so-long-ago fall of 2013 was to never leave high school with regret. This piece of sage advice was relayed to me by a family friend who had previously graduated from high school a few years ago. Well, I’m a month away from graduating, and can safely say that I have a considerable amount of regrets about things I’ve done, things I didn’t do, and things I wish I could take back. I probably should’ve forgiven more friends, apologized to some ex-friends, kept my math grades up, flirted with some more boys, not flirted with some boys, and joined more extracurriculars. I know now that I grew a lot throughout my four years and it’s impossible that I could’ve done everything right with what I know now.
Leaving high school with regrets is a conflicting situation; I feel so ready to leave high school behind and get on with my future, but at the same time, I want to slow down the next month and do every single thing I possibly can. I don’t want to be that person that doesn’t shut up about high school in college, and I certainly don’t want to feel like I peaked in high school.
I don’t know if any other seniors are feeling this, but to other rising seniors, or high schoolers — godspeed, baby.
That was the best thing you did for yourself in that moment. A part of me regrets not joining a fun sport with a welcoming and close knit team freshman year, but at the time, I hated sports and was extremely shy. I’m a different person, in my opinion, than I was four years earlier. I enjoy small talk now (if I’m in the mood), and I don’t think exercise is awful (though I am an awful runner). I probably would’ve hated meeting new people and working out back then, but I can join a sport in college or in the future, now that I’m more comfortable with the idea.
Everything happens for a reason. One of the biggest regrets I had for most of my time as an upperclassman was not pursuing my crushes enough. Those crushes would go on with their lives without really noticing me, finding other girlfriends, leaving me in disappointment. I ended up beating myself over unrequited crushes, but after talking to some of guys I had liked (after I stopped liking them), I realized they weren’t the cool and nice people I had envisioned or told myself they were. If I could tell my old crushes anything it’d be, “Like wow, I’m glad I never dated you now because you tell offensive jokes and are a rude person!”
People grow, and you shouldn’t hold them back. More often than not, friendships fall through the cracks and sometimes, it’s your fault. I’ll admit it, I screwed up a few of my friendships: I was too scared of confrontation and not good at communication. To friendships that have ended mutually, or friendships where they’ve ended due to someone, I try not to harbor ill feelings towards the other, and I want to be happy for their successes, despite any conflict previously.
So what do we conflicted high school seniors do in the remaining month or so left we have of high schools? Do we try to do everything we possibly can with the time remaining, or do we accept that things can’t change, and focus on solely the future?
