I’m the first to admit that high school was one big hotbed of drama, SATs, anxiety and annoyance, and that I’m glad to be rid of it. I think most college students are. But I’d be a fool to say that I didn’t learn valuable things from that hellish experience. So here are seven things I’m thanking high school for:

1. AP courses.

Because of AP courses, not only am I a year ahead credit-wise and free from having to worry about taking a language class ever again, I am also used to so much more homework than I’m getting in college. Guys…sleep is an actual thing!

2. Debate Club.

Anecdote time: I had a final presentation for a class this year and I was a bit at the end of my rope. So I did as we all must do at one time or another: I winged it. After the presentation, a comment I got back from the professor was, “I can tell that you prepared this before getting up there — it was very articulate.” I suppose you could count four years of debate club as preparation for that one presentation…and many others in the future.

3. The senior term paper.

This term paper was the arduous result of four months of reading, rereading, researching, writing, rewriting, hair-tearing, mascara-running, and rethinking my entire life. Ultimately, it paid off in research skills and if not proficient, at least experienced, thesis writing. Most of my papers in my first year of college didn’t take nearly as long to write, nor did they freak me out as much, all because of the process of writing that fateful paper in my last year of high school.

4. Discussion classes.

Quite simply, I learned how the system of these classes work: listen most of the time, cut down and adjust what you were about to say, and then make one pithy, intelligent statement that will stick with the professor and the rest of the class. After that, sit back and revel in the catalyst you just created. Or that’s the hope, at least. In short, say what you need to say and don’t take things said against your statement personally…it’s just a class, not your family’s honor.

5. Latin class.

I had to read "The Aeneid" for a Classics literature college course but had already read it, both in Latin and in English, the year before for high school Latin class. That alone was a real time saver.

6. School dances (and the drama that accompanies them).

I have been thoroughly disenchanted with these nights of glitter appearing everywhere, pinched feet inside high heels, and more than one friend crying over her crush slow dancing with another girl. Those nights, and many other less sparkly ones, were times I used to agonize over in high school. Moral of the story: Been there, done that — I’ve been cured of drama.

7. Newspaper.

The fact that my writing was going to be published for the whole school to see made me value editing and proofreading so much more. Not to mention that the embarrassment of possibly having a huge blank space in the paper that is eternally instilled in my brain nearly always prevents me from handing in assignments late. The newspaper put the fear of deadline in me and for that I’m forever grateful.