High school can be stressful for various different reasons, so going into it prepared is important. Many people wish they were given certain advice going into high school to make it go smoother. Here are three pieces of advice that students wish they had going into high school and my take on them.

Slow down and enjoy the moment you are in because before you know it, your high school career will come to an end.

I feel like in high school, everything seems rushed. Students are constantly counting down, whether that be to deadlines, the end of the year, end of the week, and even the end of the day. Doing this makes things feel as though they go by so much faster, which at the moment is typically the goal. In hindsight, however, this is a common regret. When looking back at high school, many say it goes by so fast, which is hard for a freshmen to fathom when they are just beginning the expected long four years. 

Slow down every now and then. High school is not a race, it is an experience, one that you will never be able to get back. Savor your years as a high schooler and try not to take anything for granted because, once you do, you will spend so much of your future longing for that high school experience. 

Involve yourself in extracurricular(s)/activity(s) because there is a slim chance you’ll have those opportunities out of high school.

This is a common thing many students (including myself) wish they knew before starting high school. Involving yourself with clubs, teams, organizations, and activities opens you up to so many new experiences. 

I play for the school soccer team and have my whole high school and middle school career. Through this, I have made so many friendships and unbreakable bonds. I am so grateful that I decided to play soccer because it introduced me to so many people I may never have gotten the chance to meet. Not only has soccer given me friendships, but it has given me so many valuable experiences. I have learned the value of teamwork: winning as a team and losing as a team. It has helped me to become more motivated, determined, and dedicated. I have gathered all of these very valuable things from just being part of one team.

There are so many more things that you can include yourself in other than a team. Kennard-Dale offers many different clubs. I am personally a member of National Honors Society and was a former member of Envirothon. One of my regrets was not applying myself for other clubs. For my senior year, I am going to be doing as many clubs as I can balance because of all of the interesting things they have to offer. 

Outside of high school, chances to explore potential interests of yours are possible, but during high school is the best time to do it. Outside of high school, you have to put yourself out there more directly, rather than just using a club to do so.

Joining extracurriculars, activities, and teams are a great way to expand your experiences, make new friends, and find some of your hidden interests. 

I wish someone told me not to spend the whole time trying to become someone everyone will like and just spend it enjoying the moments, because they will go faster than you think. 

A very common thing in high school is the desire to be liked. To be liked, many change things about themselves like their appearance, how they act, how they dress, and so much more. While you may temporarily be liked by a certain person or group, you become someone different, someone you may not even like. 

At the end of the day, being liked should not be your top priority. No, that does not mean to be rude to people, it just means you should not change things about yourself in order to impress people. 

When you strive hard to be liked, high school can seem worse because on top of the work load, you face the constant fear of being disliked. In order to enjoy the moment, you need to be you. 

High school goes by fast, so there is no sense in spending that time being someone you are not just to be liked.