Why Life Truly Begins After High School

High school. It can be the best or the worst time in someone’s life. From acne to peer pressure, it can be a lot to handle. When you’re in the thick of it, it’s easy to believe high school is the center of the universe, and it won’t get any better. Should this be my peak? Absolutely not. High school shouldn’t be the center point in your life, regardless if your experience is negative or positive. Life does, in fact, get better.  And here is why.

1. No drama. As an adult, people start to care less about what other people are doing. This can be in the workforce or in college. Typically, people go about their day, minding their own business. If you somehow stumble upon drama-fueled people, cut them off. They will only make your life harder. Don’t drag the drama with you.

2. You become your own person. In high school, you’re expected to conform to the standards of your peers. Individuality is frowned upon. As an adult, you can become the person you want to be without worrying about being ostracized. Life is fluid and there’s always room for growth. Don’t ever change yourself to “fit in.” You will find friends who truly love and care about you, which leads me to my next point.

3. You learn who your true friends are. Many people don’t want to hear this, but your friend group shrinks over time. More often than not, all the friends you had in high school won’t follow you into adult life. This can be a blessing because a lot of  those “friends” were acquaintances who you connected with due to circumstance. You learn who your true friends are, and who is worth keeping around. 

4. You acquire wisdom and knowledge. Life is all about learning. If you stop learning, you stop developing as a person. As you grow older, you will be able to detect what type of person people are. You will learn how to cope after loss, see through people’s disguises, and gain valuable life experience. Never stop learning and always keep pushing, regardless of how tough life can get.

5. You’re a small fish in a big ocean. In high school, you’re a big fish in a small pond; everyone knows everyone. You are surrounded by the same people every day. However, as an adult, the world is your ocean. You decide which path you want to take. You can choose to blend into the sea of faces or to stand out. There are so many people out there and a whole world to explore!

6. You stop caring about what people think. This does take a while, but you will stop caring less and less what people think. You will let those insults roll off your shoulders, and carry on with your life. You won’t bat an eye if that customer curses you out, if your friends don’t approve of your new significant other, or if someone doesn’t like you. You will learn who you truly are, as you refuse to let other people’s opinions impact your happiness. 

7. You won’t come in contact with your high school bullies. After you graduate, odds are you won’t cross paths with those who hurt you. People branch out and go to different places after high school. If you somehow run into them, try to avoid them. Same thing applies if you’re working and stumble across them. If they try to message you on social media, block them. Don’t fall for their trap.

8. The stuff you worried about was frivolous. If you ever reflect on your high school years, you will see you worried about stupid things. You worried about silly things like your crush not liking you back, not being invited to a party, or having a zit on your face. All of those problems become miniscule in comparison to the stuff you worry about now. You will look back and gain perspective on what truly matters in life. 

9. You have a chance to set new ambitions. If you didn’t do much in high school, that’s okay! If you want to chart a new path, and abandon old activities, that’s also wonderful! Leaving high school is a fresh chance to reassess your goals, and search for happiness in life. 

I hope these pointers help you realize that high school isn’t a big deal. High school is such a small fragment in your life. You will look back and be proud that you survived. Adulthood is way better. High school was the worst four years of my life, and now it doesn’t even cross my mind. You will get through it!

Written by: M.J. Darling