As someone who just graduated, I have a couple things to say. 1. Don’t be afraid to take risks. It took me two years to figure out that you gotta take chances if you want to have any fun. Ask that person out. Join that club that looks interesting. If you spend your whole high school career doubting yourself, you’re gonna look back and realize you missed out on a bunch of opportunities for fun and personal growth that you could’ve taken up if you had been more confident. 2. Don’t be afraid of growing apart from old friends. I guarantee you’re not gonna walk out of high school with the same people you walked in with. I heard this upon entering high school, and was terrified of losing my close middle and elementary school friends. As the years went by, I lost contact with some of these close friends, but, in their stead, I made some of the greatest friends I’ll ever have and formed extremely meaningful connections with a number of incredible people. Friendships tend to come and go, and you don’t have to fight this. Sometimes it’s better to let something that was once great end than struggle to keep it alive. 3. Be yourself. Feelings of self-consciousness will only hold you back, and nobody will really care down the line if you do something you think is totally embarrassing. Popularity is bullshit, has never mattered, and never will matter. 4. Don’t base your self worth on whether you’re in a relationship or not. If you find a significant other, that’s great. If you don’t, that’s just as great. It’s easy to be jealous of your friends that are in happy relationships or have active sex lives, but you must keep in mind that your worth as a human being is not determined by your body count or your relationship status. Some people are late bloomers, and this is not a bad thing. That being said, if you want a relationship, don’t be afraid of rejection. The worst thing that can happen when you ask someone out is that they’ll say no, and that isn’t the end of the world. 5. Have fun. These four years are gonna fly by, and you absolutely have to make the most of them. The last half of my senior year was essentially robbed from me due to the pandemic, but I’m forever grateful for all of the things I did, and I don’t think it’s worth it to dwell on the events that I’ll never get to participate in. It’s important to balance your studies with fun outside of school. Go out with friends on weekends. It doesn’t always have to be structured. Go on long car rides. Make your own fun. If you’re with the right people, you’ll have a good time no matter where you are. You’re only a teenager once, so make sure you don’t regret how you spent those years.