With one more month left in the school year, I’ve been overcome with a range of emotions regarding my future. Like most of you, I’m in shock at how time keeps getting faster. Throughout these rapid four years, I didn’t envision myself in the position I am in right now. About to graduate and move on to college. It feels like the community I am part of (friends, family, school) is trying to grasp on the last few moments as well. Over this weekend, I had a deep self-realization of who I was and what I did in high school during a nice morning hammock nap. I have regrets that I didn’t do more. I have regrets that I didn’t ¨just go for it¨ instead of worrying about what others thought. I have regrets that I didn’t work harder. I don’t mean to use the word ¨regret¨ as a negative connotation but in a way of learning from your experiences. I’m a big believer in fate and the phrase ¨everything happens for a reason¨ so I take my ¨regret¨ as a tool to grow.
To start off what I would’ve said to my freshman year self would be me emphasizing to have an open mind to learn from ALL your experiences. Were so set back as humans to thinking failing is bad that we try to brush past it and not learn from it while moving on. It took time and maturity to realize this but I would suggest that to the incoming freshman in a heartbeat.
Secondly, what I would’ve said to my freshman year self would be me stressing the fact that time is inevitable; it just keeps flowing. I highlight this because it would have motivated me to have worked harder and taken more risks in school, sports, and relationships. A chance to get out of my comfort zone and really push myself.
Lastly, what I would’ve said to my freshman year self would be me spotlighting being grateful. Grateful for my friends, family, school/community. I think with me having a more grateful approach to everything, I would have appreciated the highs and lows more while developing the mindset of ¨I GET to be here, instead of I HAVE to be here.¨
Next year, I will be attending the University of Minnesota and majoring in Industrial Engineering. High school gave me so much to learn from while developing me into a person that I can be proud of. The biggest indicator will be how I do in college. I want to be involved, consistent, and persistent and I think Naperville North gave me the tools to accomplish that.
This is a great post Nathan! Super simple and to the point but GREAT ADVICE! I also feel like there were times where I didn’t take advantage of what high school and being young had to offer. However, as you said, this is only something to learn from and now we have the rest of our loves to make the most of what’s in front of us. I especially like what you said about taking risks. I think that important in so many aspects of high school. Not only is it great to try new things, but also don’t be afraid of change. And I mean like lifestyle changes. This could be the people you hang out with, the activities you do outside of school, etc. I think we are afraid sometimes to break out of situations because of what it could do to us socially but it’s important to always do what makes us happy.
Love this!
Nathan, I’ve been feeling the exact same way! With the last year and a half being essentially scrapped, I wish I could go back and tell myself to enjoy those first 2.5 years more. I think I spent way too much time stressing about school and what people thought of me and not enough time enjoying life. I wish I had taken more risks and tried more things, for all I know I could have fallen in love with some sport or activity that I’ve never tried before but oh well. I think it is fun to reflect on what we would tell our past selves because it demonstrates how much we have grown as people over time; I wrote a letter to my future self as a freshman that I’m excited to read to see how my thoughts, priorities, and worries have changed since then.
Hi Nathan! I have also been reflecting on my high school years recently. I think that most of all, I would want to tell myself that it would all turn out okay. There is such pressure, especially at our school, to be the perfect candidate for colleges. However, high school should be about more than preparation for college. Luckily, for the most part for me, it was. I spent a little too much time studying, but I did spend plenty of time with my friends and doing things that I enjoyed. I completely agree with what you said about being grateful. In these last months of high school, I have stopped to appreciate everything that I have been given. My parents have been insanely supportive of me, I’ve had great teachers, and I’ve had the same best friends for all of high school. Yeah, there are a few pieces of advice I would give my freshman self, but I think I did alright.
Nathan,
I agree with a lot of what you said in this post. I think that I would also tell myself to be more grateful for the fact that I “get” to be in this community, and that I should take more opportunities to join clubs, go to games, and attend school activities. A lot of the lessons that we have learned in high school are also applicable to college – all the things that I wish I could have told myself freshman year of high school, I am now telling myself going into my freshman year of college.
I love this post so much Nathan! Perspective is everything 🙂