Dear High School Me,
Congrats on your graduation! Grade 12 is nearing its completion at long last. While for some, high school graduation holds the significance of the completion of 12 years of education, it is a culmination of all the hard work, difficulties, and successes that has turned you from that shy 7 year-old who didn’t speak an ounce of English to someone who is immersed in society completely. While the term “a moment you’ve been waiting for your entire life” isn’t really applicable to your high school grad, the sense that you’ve finally crossed the finish line of a marathon you’ve watched so many others complete is nonetheless exciting. Remember last year this time when you were watching all of your friends walk the stage at grad and thinking how much you wished you could go with them? Be patient is what I would tell you now. It turns out you needed that extra year to self-actualize and develop your core beliefs, which guide you in everything you do now.
While high school was rocky at times, I would ask you to not be a pessimist about it. I bet now you’re thinking about it with rose-coloured lenses and reminiscing about how wonderful it was to have all your closest friends so easily accessible, how great it was to feel such a sense of community, and how at-home you felt sitting in the always too hot or cold band room. And I don’t blame you for that. You learned how to be a strong leader in high school, you finally recognized your weaknesses as a person and started to consciously try to fix them, and you definitely started dressing better (and finally learned how to do your brows!). The past three years was full of remarkable changes in your attitude, both towards the world and towards your own life. You discovered self-confidence and finally realized your potential, allowing you to live without fear of being judged. You surrounded yourself with friends you care about and know in your heart who you want to remain friends with for the rest of your life. You realized so many things that allowed you to get to your graduation feeling wholly prepared to step into the next chapter of your life, and for that, high school deserves a
lot of credit where credit is due.
Now, as you live this weird, transitional time between university and high school, I hope you continue to maintain your commitments with the heart that you have given them the past three years. Use this time to organize your life to make things easier for you in the future. Read, write, and educate yourself on things you were always curious about but never had the time to study during school. Take up new hobbies, and make plans to continue your old ones, which have now become a defining part of your identity. And always remain grounded. To reality, to your accomplishments, and to the moment. You’ve got a whole life to come where failure, success, and unexpected events will undoubtedly make their mark. Accept that as life, and don’t let any one thing define everything that you have worked so hard and have had the good fortune to receive and become. Take time to reflect; your strongest skill that has made you passionate about what you do. Reflect on the value of things and people in your life, reflect on what your contributions to them are, and reflect on the good and bad of everything before making up your mind about anything.
Finally, I hope you spend all the time you can with your family and loved ones and tell them that. These people love you more than you could ever understand; overwhelm them with love just as they do you. Love your mom, who took care of your every single need and always looked out for your best interests on top of everything she does for others. Love your dad, who gave the best advice and talked you through all of the toughest times you faced. Love your brother, who is the light and joy in your life with his funny antics and constant care and affection. I would hope I know you well enough to say that all of the above should be a no-brainer. That being said, call them right now and remind them that you love them. It doesn’t matter how busy or inconvenient it is for you — what ever it is can wait, don’t make your family wait for you.
The next four years will be another roller coaster with its highs, lows, twists and turns, uphill battles, exciting moments, and boring ones. However, if there is anything I wish for you, myself, is to always make time for the things you love, and remain grounded.