6 long years ago I was a 16 year old high school student without many cares in the world, playing soccer every day and hanging out with friends in between that. Homework wasn't a top priority and my future was too far away to care too much about. But looking back I would have slapped myself upside the head and nodded in disapproval at the sheer laziness I possessed. I wish I would have taken my life more serious because little did I know, what happens in the future is dependent upon your actions in the past.
1) Take advantage of High School.
>> Take as many college level courses as you can, don't just do the bare minimum high school requirements and "get by". First of all, it leaves you in a better place entering college because you have a lot of the prerequisites taken care of which allows you to get a head start in college, focusing on your major from the get go. That way, if you do end up changing majors half way through your sophomore year, you will end ON TIME instead of a year late. Also, this will save you A LOT of money. Each college class is spendy, so each class you can take for FREE in high school will save you that money in the long run to pay off the loans you will accumulate.
2) Don't be lazy during your high school summer breaks and spring breaks.
>> Lounging around in pajamas all day or laying by the pool with all your BFFs may sound nice at the time, but trying to get a job in the future without much experience will be tough. Spend those summers working! Even if you don't end up working in retail or at a coffee shop or as a lifeguard in the future, you will still have benefited from those experiences. Jobs help you grow up and understand commitment, customer service (always a good skill to learn), and help you to stop being lazy! It will help you meet people and understand what it means to talk to adults, and it will help you with interview skills which is extremely useful. If you don't want to work, find a exchange program or a camp to participate in. Your time away may be one of the most vital and rewarding times of your life. Do not worry about what you are missing at home or school by leaving town. You will learn so much wherever you go. The people you will meet and situations you will experience may be invaluable in the years to come.
3) Enjoy your time at home.
>> Although parents can seem like they are out to ruin your life, they love you. They want the best for you and to help you. As you grow older, you will learn to determine which of their advice is the best for you, but while you are still in high school and young, it will benefit you a great deal to just listen to their advice. They have lived a lot longer than you, and most likely know a lot more than you. Plus you are living for FREE. With food included! Which brings me to my next point.
4) Learn to cook and clean BEFORE you move out.
>> As nice as it is to only have to clean your room when your parents tell you, and to come home from school and hanging out with friends to a nice home cooked meal, that's not going to last forever. Sooner or later you're going to have to grow up and .... do things for yourself!! GASP!! And the time will come when you have a spouse, and a family you have to cook and clean for. The earlier you learn, the easier it is to continue doing such things. Cook with your mom or dad, make it a goal to keep your room and bathroom clean. It will help you become all around more of an organized person and when has that ever been a bad thing??
5) The choices you make now will somehow play a role in your future. Choose wisely.
>> I know in high school there's a lot of pressure to be cool and to fit in but a couple years later, it doesn't matter if you were in the "in crowd" or who you hung out with. Drinking obsessive amounts doesn't make you cool. Don't drink to get people to like you. If they don't like you sober which is the way you will spend the majority of your time, who cares if they like you when you're drunk. Drinking doesn't make you more attractive either. If anything, it makes you look like an incompetent fool who slurs their words and can't walk in a straight line. Plus it could land you in trouble with the law which could permanently effect your future. If you want to drink, just do so responsibly. I know many people say it, but it's just so important that you actually take that advice. And if you don't drink, just make sure to not judge the people that do. Not drinking doesn't make you perfect.
>> Be careful with the people you hang around, the people you date, and the choices you make in each of your relationships. Whoever you end up marrying in the future could be indirectly hurt by each of the bad decisions you make with your short lived high school relationships. But also remember, whoever you end up marrying in the future with have a history too. Be gracious and loving, and don't hold anything against the person you love.
So I guess there is a longer list than I anticipated... So I will continue in another blog post a different time. But for now! I hope you enjoyed each of the things I have learned that I wish I knew when I was younger. And possibly learned something for yourself :)
Love,
Jenessa
1) Take advantage of High School.
>> Take as many college level courses as you can, don't just do the bare minimum high school requirements and "get by". First of all, it leaves you in a better place entering college because you have a lot of the prerequisites taken care of which allows you to get a head start in college, focusing on your major from the get go. That way, if you do end up changing majors half way through your sophomore year, you will end ON TIME instead of a year late. Also, this will save you A LOT of money. Each college class is spendy, so each class you can take for FREE in high school will save you that money in the long run to pay off the loans you will accumulate.
2) Don't be lazy during your high school summer breaks and spring breaks.
>> Lounging around in pajamas all day or laying by the pool with all your BFFs may sound nice at the time, but trying to get a job in the future without much experience will be tough. Spend those summers working! Even if you don't end up working in retail or at a coffee shop or as a lifeguard in the future, you will still have benefited from those experiences. Jobs help you grow up and understand commitment, customer service (always a good skill to learn), and help you to stop being lazy! It will help you meet people and understand what it means to talk to adults, and it will help you with interview skills which is extremely useful. If you don't want to work, find a exchange program or a camp to participate in. Your time away may be one of the most vital and rewarding times of your life. Do not worry about what you are missing at home or school by leaving town. You will learn so much wherever you go. The people you will meet and situations you will experience may be invaluable in the years to come.
3) Enjoy your time at home.
>> Although parents can seem like they are out to ruin your life, they love you. They want the best for you and to help you. As you grow older, you will learn to determine which of their advice is the best for you, but while you are still in high school and young, it will benefit you a great deal to just listen to their advice. They have lived a lot longer than you, and most likely know a lot more than you. Plus you are living for FREE. With food included! Which brings me to my next point.
4) Learn to cook and clean BEFORE you move out.
>> As nice as it is to only have to clean your room when your parents tell you, and to come home from school and hanging out with friends to a nice home cooked meal, that's not going to last forever. Sooner or later you're going to have to grow up and .... do things for yourself!! GASP!! And the time will come when you have a spouse, and a family you have to cook and clean for. The earlier you learn, the easier it is to continue doing such things. Cook with your mom or dad, make it a goal to keep your room and bathroom clean. It will help you become all around more of an organized person and when has that ever been a bad thing??
5) The choices you make now will somehow play a role in your future. Choose wisely.
>> I know in high school there's a lot of pressure to be cool and to fit in but a couple years later, it doesn't matter if you were in the "in crowd" or who you hung out with. Drinking obsessive amounts doesn't make you cool. Don't drink to get people to like you. If they don't like you sober which is the way you will spend the majority of your time, who cares if they like you when you're drunk. Drinking doesn't make you more attractive either. If anything, it makes you look like an incompetent fool who slurs their words and can't walk in a straight line. Plus it could land you in trouble with the law which could permanently effect your future. If you want to drink, just do so responsibly. I know many people say it, but it's just so important that you actually take that advice. And if you don't drink, just make sure to not judge the people that do. Not drinking doesn't make you perfect.
>> Be careful with the people you hang around, the people you date, and the choices you make in each of your relationships. Whoever you end up marrying in the future could be indirectly hurt by each of the bad decisions you make with your short lived high school relationships. But also remember, whoever you end up marrying in the future with have a history too. Be gracious and loving, and don't hold anything against the person you love.
So I guess there is a longer list than I anticipated... So I will continue in another blog post a different time. But for now! I hope you enjoyed each of the things I have learned that I wish I knew when I was younger. And possibly learned something for yourself :)
Love,
Jenessa
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