29 THINGS I WISH I'D KNOWN IN HIGH SCHOOL


As we now have all boys in High School, it has gotten me reflecting on this time in their lives, and mine. High School was ok, heck, it was often FUN as can be. I faced many of the issues kids do today. Yet, today it's magnified and social media has created a whole new existence. Kids say the cruelest things. There is so much more pressure, deadlines, and stereotypes and the bullying is horrendous. Our boys are pretty good about going with the flow but definitely have been hurt. I know it is especially difficult for girls. I want them to know that by NO means does High School define you. It is a tiny chapter in your life that you have to make the most of. Today is my life and the one I love and while I look back on some things with fondness, others I don't even have much of a memory today and I truly only miss a handful of people. The true people who care are the ones sitting across the dinner table from you, working down the hall, taking the time to catch up with you or giving you a hug.
I practiced many on this list, others I wish I had and I certainly hope kids today can look at a list like this and realize to not sweat the small stuff!
1. It won't matter later on that he was on a high school football, basketball or wrestling team or she was a cheerleader or you had a 4.525 GPA
2. Chill with the eyeliner.
3. Don't tell your mom you hate her; you will regret it.
4. Innocence is beautiful.
5. Call your grandma just because.
6. Some people will never like you; don't let it bother you. Kill them with kindness anyway.
7. You were beautiful before he told you.
8. Don't believe stereotypes. Get to know people personally instead of judging them.
9. Don't let one mistake define you. But learn from your mistakes. 
10. Eat home-cooked meals. You will miss it one day.
11. Your mom can see a fake friend before you can.
12. Your dad can see a crappy boy before you can.
13. Enjoy your metabolism while it lasts and eat the dang doughnut. 
14. There is more to life than Friday night.
15. If your parents buy you something, whether it's a Hamburger or a phone, say thank you.
16. Try hard to keep your best friend. While you'll make other friends later on, she probably is the "BEST" best friend you'll ever have. 
17. Prom is not the "best night of your life," but go anyway.
18. High school years are not the best years of your life, However, enjoy high school while it lasts, you will miss some of it.
19. Stop comparing yourself to others; that will never do any good.
20. Learn to forgive. Also learn that not everyone deserves your trust.
21. Learn to apologize.
22. He most likely isn't the love of your life. 
23. Stop pretending to be someone you are not to impress people.
24. Keep a journal. Seriously, you will love reading it one day. 
25. Take your studies and SAT prep classes seriously. Knowledge is power! 
26. Write thank you notes for everything.
27. Tell your favorite high school teacher she (or he) Rocks. Teaching is tough.
28. Nothing good happens past midnight. My parents always said this and it is so true.
29. His plan is greater than yours (Romans 8:28).
To all of the high school girls (and boys) reading this--I hope you never forget that even though life sometimes stinks, you will have plenty of moments that make you forget about the hard times. You will have moments of laughter, joy, and thankfulness that compensate for the time you failed your math test or the "one" broke your heart. Be willing to adventure through life, and go through the bad with a smile knowing the best is yet to come. Embrace your innocence and stop trying to grow up. You only get to be a kid once; so enjoy the end of the beginning while you can.

Senior, Fall 1988

25 years later

The High School "Men" on their first day last week!!
Linking up with Biana // Totally Terrific Tuesday // Garay Treasures // Tuesday Talk // Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop // Saturday Sharevest // Brilliant Blog Posts
xoxo
 "One day you’re 17 and planning for someday. And then quietly and without you ever really noticing, someday is today. And then someday is yesterday. And this is your life."
~ONE TREE HILL

34 comments:

  1. I am certain that we would have been friends in high school!! I am printing this out and hanging it in my daughters bathroom. She starts high school next week and is terrified. I am just praying for peace and God's hand in it all. Thanks friend! And your boys are so handsome. I hope they have a great year!! Susan

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  2. Oh my gosh how true is #11 about your mom seeing a fake friend - that is insane! #22 very true in my case - every guy I dated in high school I thought was the one lol! xo, Biana -BlovedBoston

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  3. Good post. Really good.

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  4. I LOVE this! HA "chill with the eyeliner!"I wish someone had told me that. Actually...I think my mom did several times but of course I didn't listen! I agree with every single one of these!

    www.rosyoutlookblog.com

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  5. Anonymous17.8.15

    I LOVE this and you are so RIGHT on all of these:) Hope you had a great weekend!

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  6. Andrea you look exactly the same 25 years ago that you do today, minus the change in hairstyle but that is incredible! This list is so true, I look back on high school and college and there are so many things I would change. I also wish I had just believed my parents the first time with things and didn't need to alwayssss figure them out on my own, I would have saved myself loads of stress haha!

    Hope your Monday is off to a great start!

    Susie

    www.SequinsandStrawberries.com

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  7. Such solid advice!!!! I wish I wouldn't have cared so much what people though sometimes. I knew when I was in high school that it wasn't going to be the best time of my life...but I wish I would have had a little more fun. It's the only time in your life you don't really have any worries even though at the time you make everything such a big deal!!! And can we please have those metabolisms back??

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  8. Great advice! Love this!

    xx
    Lauren Elizabeth
    Petite in Pearls

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  9. As a high school teacher, I love reading this. I see so many kids get caught up in thinking that there's nothing beyond high school and that THIS is it. I had some fun in high school but there's definitely a great life beyond it! Preach it, girlfriend :)

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  10. Wow, what a great read!! Definitely made me think back to being so young and thinking everything was the end of the world, or that I had found "the one" at 16 :) Thanks for the smiles this morning!!

    Shauna

    www.lipglossandlace.net

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  11. LOVE this and the throw back pic of fabulous you! YES to enjoying the metabolism, the home cooked meals, chilling out with the eyeliner, and he's not the love of your life. Wish I knew all this back then :)

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  12. I love this list! Especially the one about calling your grandma. My grandma passed away two weeks before I started high school and I so wish I had her to call (or go over to her house since my grandparents lived across the street from us). We knew my grandma was dying so the summer before high school, I spent every single day with her and loved every minute of it. I think it really put things in perspective for me before starting high school. I knew what was important in life and didn't get wrapped up in high school drama. Anyways, great post! :)

    http://elementsofellis.com/

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  13. Hi Andrea, such a sweet and honest post! I agree with you that it really doesn't matter what people think of you - kill them with kindness! Amen! High school can be tough these days, and I'm just praying my son will have a good experience. I was bullied in high school, I was a nerd. I was the one with the A's, etc. It was hard, but looking back it only made me stronger.
    Wish you a Happy Monday, and I hope your day is as beautiful as you are!
    XOXO, Vanessa
    www.WhatWouldVWear.net

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  14. All of these are so true! I liked high school but I'm glad it's behind me:)

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  15. I love this, I'm young and love taking a word from the wise. Proverbs 12:15 Thanks for sharing!

    God bless,
    XO, Claire
    Http://www.littlemissfashionqueen.com

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  16. yes to all of these. I wish I called my grandmother more often and said thank you to my parents more. Your face hasn't changed one bit in 25 years. Good genes you have there!! lol

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  17. Anonymous17.8.15

    I respectfully disagree about best friends - my husband is a much better friend to me than anyone who I know from high school.

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  18. "Your mom can see a fake friend before you can" SO MUCH TRUTH TO THIS STATEMENT hahah!
    www.amemoryofus.com

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  19. I agree with everything! I always tell my boys that nothing good happens after midnight, and I definitely miss my metabolism!

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  20. This is perfect! And I love the One Tree Hill quote. What I wish I had known in high school...:)

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  21. These are great and such a good reminder to all of us. I love "he's most likely not the love of your life" and "call your grandmother just because!"

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  22. I loved this especially #11 and #12 OHHH so TRUE!

    I am coming over from Tuesday Talk.!

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  23. These are all SO true Andrea!! I went to all-girls Catholic high school and while it was a lot of fun, it certainly was tough sometimes. College was definitely better!! :-) Thanks so much for sharing this Andrea and I hope that you are having a great week so far!

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  24. This has me smiling the whole time! All of these are so true and so wish I had know all of this in high school. Chill on the eyeliner, haha!

    Brooke

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  25. You have some handsome high men at that! I loved your 29 things you wish or want high schoolers to know. I agree with all of these! Hope you have a good night friend, you are welcome for the feature.
    Thank you for linking up to "Bloggers Who have Inspired Me" yesterday.
    Rachel xo
    Please stop by Bloggers Who Have Inspired Me link up here
    Garay Treasures

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  26. What a GREAT list! Even made me tear up a bit thinking about all I learned in high school!

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  27. Thanks 4 linking up when I co-hosted Bloggers Who Have Inspired Me. I always enjoy your posts and outfits. I also wanted to let you know that I host a weekly linkup party on Thursdays called Top of the World Style. It is currently live at http://highlatitudestyle.com/2015/08/20/summer-outfit-in-fall/ I would love if you accept my invitation to join. Have a nice weekend. Nicole

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  28. what brilliant tips. Yes I too wish id known i was beautiful before someone else told me! Popping over from #BrilliantBlogposts

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  29. Great post! I loved high school but I think in this day and age it would be so much harder to navigate with the social media side of things! I would also add 'Don't forget your mum!'. Just because you have other friends now, still make time for her. I'm so glad I did because mine died when I was 21 so I was lucky we remained best friends throughout those years despite my busy social life. #brilliantblogposts

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  30. Going to show our 16 yr old this list. Maybe some of the truth will get through from a different voice

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  31. Anonymous26.11.15

    So true! Loving the pictures! #BrilliantBlogPosts

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  32. Beautiful list! Shamefully still working on 5 and 26 #BrilliantBlogPosts

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  33. Such a great list of things I too wish I had known then... I definitely did not (and do not) think of high school as the best time in my life. I was just happy to get through it mostly unscathed.

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  34. This is such a great list! I agree and it is good to read as I have a senior in high school. I also graduated in 1988!

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