You learn a lot after you graduate high school, in many different ways. Here are some things I learned after I graduated.

1. Drama does not matter anymore.

I suddenly didn't really care that so-and-so spread this rumor about me. It's not like I would be seeing any of these people again in September.

2. The few who refuse to change and still try to start drama are not people I want to have around me.

The summer becomes magically better without that stress. (Isn't that the whole point of summer break anyways?)

3. But on the flip side, some of my other friends changed so much, and it wasn't really for the best.

4. My bad habits don't disappear just because I have a diploma.

Which means I will no doubt blow off packing for move-in day until I hardly have even one day left to do it.

5. I don't have to completely abandon things I enjoy doing just because they seem "childish" to others.

I will forever be the one person down to play Mario Kart no matter what. Just because I'm older doesn't mean I've abandoned that.

6. No one cares about who was who in high school.

Oh, you were homecoming royalty? You were voted "Most Stylish" in the yearbook?

Whatever your superlative was, don't share it. Everyone stops caring right after graduation.

7. I shouldn't worry about what people think of me.

I never really did to start with, but at this time in my life, it's especially vital I don't lose sleep over the opinions of others. Otherwise, I won't be living a life I'm satisfied with.

8. Some people are just going to be assholes forever.

And there's really nothing I can do about it so...

9. From this point on, my main concern should be myself and what I'm doing to better myself as a person

If I don't focus on me, how am I going to reach my full potential?

10. High school is a really short period of time.

I have the rest of my life ahead of me, and high school was only a small part of that. I have all the potential needed to build relationships and a life that I'm proud of living. High school was the best four years of my life because it set the foundation for who I am as a person and how I set out to make my own way in the big, bad world.