What I Learned From High School

For those of you that don’t personally know me, I didn’t have an ideal high school experience. It was the opposite of that. I didn’t hate it entirely, though; I made some great friends, and I’m thankful for my time in the band. As soon as high school ended, I promised myself that I would not repeat the same mistakes or come in contact with those that reminded me of them. But three years later, I’ve decided to learn from my past, rather than run from it! So for this post, I’m going to share everything I learned from my journey through high school, showing how to look at a negative experience with a positive outlook.

My biggest problem in high school was worrying too much about what people thought of me. If I was bothering my friends, or supposedly bothering them, I’d avoid them to do my friends a favor. Then the cycle of me running away, my friends following me, making up with them, then running away again began!

It was a confusing and weird time for both my friends and I. While doubting myself, I never stopped to think that it was all in my head, and I wasn’t bothering my friends in the first place. Friends are those that see you in your happiest and darkest times, and they pick you back up when you need them the most. Thankfully I don’t avoid people anymore, but trusting my instincts is key to this point too! You won’t have your friends to back you up forever, that’s why.

I previously mentioned this in the Who Says post, but I used to think there was something wrong with me because I wasn’t happy like everyone else. Or so I thought, I never stopped to think that maybe I wasn’t alone. Even the happiest kid in class could be the saddest kid on the inside going through demons of their own. In concert band and marching band, I relied on one friend, who was the seemingly perfect girl in my eyes. She was an excellent percussionist, beautiful on the inside and out, had lots of friends, and her bubbly personality lit up the room. But she was struggling too, just like me.

What I saw on the outside was very different from what was on the inside. I can’t read minds, so I never understood what challenges people were experiencing in and out of school. I have to keep telling myself that everything is not as it seems because looks can be deceiving.

This next point is going to sound weird, but I wish I had better taste in music throughout high school. Not that there’s anything wrong with liking Justin Bieber, Demi Lovato, Ariana Grande, and Sabrina Carpenter. But seeing the positive impact the music of Def Leppard and Bon Jovi has had on me, part of me wonders how different high school would’ve been if I was more into hardcore rock anthems than poppy sad breakup songs. Besides, Richie Sambora left Bon Jovi in 2013, and I was about 14 at the time. I could’ve seen Bon Jovi live if I wanted to; I was old enough. Now that Sambora isn’t in the band anymore, who knows if I’ll ever get a chance to see him with Bon Jovi live ever.

Side note: All types of music are good, and I’m making this statement based on my personal experience.

The most important thing I learned from high school, however, is to avoid letting a boy get the best of me. I was attracted to a senior during my freshman year of high school, and when he graduated, I was a wreck. Unfortunately, I let that bother me way more than I expected to. I thought my life was over because he wasn’t there anymore. I turned my friends into my therapists too. It also didn’t help when I became friends with his sister two years later, but it’s all good now.

I was ashamed of my actions, but now I see that it wasn’t worth it dwelling on him leaving; I could’ve had a better time the next three years if I hadn’t done that. My friends were doing everything they could to help me, and I still wasn’t appreciative of them. But I’m appreciative of their efforts now, and I’m about six years late, but I finally see it now! There are more important things in life than a boy. Trust me!

I have taken these lessons with me to make up for my pain and come out stronger in the end. I’ve admitted defeat, but I’m going to trust myself more and be confident in my choices that everything is going to be alright. I don’t judge people on the outside anymore, I’m listening to music that makes me happy, and instead of wasting my energy on a boy, I’m using it to improve my craft as a content creator. Hopefully, when that day comes, I’ll be ready to apply for a position with the Walt Disney Company.

What were some of your favorite memories from high school? Let me know in the comments below!

Take care and see ya real soon!

Lana