Challenge 7: Advice

6. If you were to look back on your high school years, what advice would you give to someone beginning their high school career? (Simmons)

High school is a time where you either make it or break it. The choices you make throughout these four precious years of your life shape you as a person and have a big impact on your future. Looking over the years, I have learnt to make choices that I will not regret, because I want to make them. Earlier on, I always thought twice about whether I should do something or not, or, which pair of shoe I should wear, and I would almost always base my choice on the other person’s opinion, even if it differed from mine. This was so, because I felt that everyone was watching me, when the truth was, no one was. Besides my friends, no one cared what I wore or how I looked, so all that time I spent fretting over a shirt was useless.

One Sunday morning I had scheduled a breakfast with my cousin who is a few years younger than me, and we sat in the corner talking about life. While we were finishing up our meal, this girl, who neither of us talked to, quietly went and sat on the other corner. My cousin immediately said, “Oh, look, she’s sitting alone. I don’t think I will ever sit alone in this huge dining hall.” Her words brought back a certain memory; I recalled saying something similar to that to my elder cousin sister when I was a lot younger. With a smirk on my face I replied, “That’s just because you’re scared. You think people are watching you, and if they do, they will think you’re weird.” She smiled sheepishly, and I knew I was correct. That was exactly how I used to think (and I hate to say this, but sometimes I still do -_-).

Making a choice of sitting alone is not that big of deal, but comparing to how you could miss out on a great friendship is. You can choose to make friends with “different” people and realize how similar you are. Be the greater person and take the first step. Make the right choice because you want to.