Looking back at my four years of high school, I’ve been to hell and back. I’ve experienced just about everything you could imagine. From awful relationships to health scares to drama to excruciating classes, I’ve collected a lot of knowledge over these four years. I’ve grown as a person; in fact, everyone changes in one way or another. I’ve created a list of 40 things that high school has taught me, and I encourage you to take some of these lessons to heart. You can look at this list and dismiss it, or actually take something away from it—especially you upcoming seniors. Senior year flies by, high school flies by. In hindsight, four years takes up a very small part of your life. Every chance you have to experience something, take it. I hope you all can relate to the 40 things I’ve taken away from my high school experience.

1. You’re going to lose friends
2. You’re going to make friends

   

3. Try to be nice to everyone
4. Including people is extremely important
5. Not everything you do is cool, so stop trying
6. “Popularity” isn’t real or relevant to who you actually are
7. Take the ACT as soon and often as you can
8. Don’t let people intimidate you
9. Eat what you want
10. Wear what you want
11. Say what you want

    

12. Forcing yourself to do school work when you aren’t in the mood is a learned skill
13. But your mental health is more important than school. Take care of yourself
14. Choosing sleep over a homework assignment here and there is completely acceptable
15. You’re going to change
16. If you don’t make mistakes, you’re doing it wrong
17. Bad things are going to happen
18. But the good things that happen are what will keep you going
19. Just be honest
20. Don’t bleed out your emotions all over social media
21. Hard work will (eventually) be rewarded
22. Take care of yourself, and go to the gym

    

23. Learn to love yourself
24. Senioritis is real
25. High school is petty
26. But time flies so cherish the people around you while you can
27. Perfection isn’t real
28. You don’t have to drink
29. But if you do, don’t yack
30. It’s perfectly okay to say no
31. People are going to spread rumors about you
32. Don’t get involved with drama – be the bigger person
33. Senior year is very emotional. Some days will be happy, some days will be sad, and some days will be a little of both.
34. Trust your gut
35. Try as many new things as you can
36. Spread positivity to everyone around you
37. Always give out compliments. It might completely turn someone’s day around, and you never know who might really need it.
38. People are going to let you down, but that just shows who should and shouldn’t be in your life
39. Senior year is full of “lasts.” This chapter of your life is ending.
40. Use your experiences (yes, even the bad ones) to be a better person, if not the best you that you can possibly be.

These are the 40 things that high school has taught me, and eventually, the 40 things that high school will teach you.