High school is a time of stress, self-discovery, sadness, and happiness somehow all happening at the same time. Things that seem so important in high school don’t mean anything after graduation and things that don’t seem as important are actually what matter the most. It’s easy to just go through the motions and wish away the days, but this is an era of your life that will most likely build the foundation for the rest of your future. So don’t just sit and count down the days. Get up and do something to make the day’s count.

1. DON’T CARE SO MUCH.

Up until senior year, I was so consumed about what people thought of me. I worried about my hair, my clothes, and who I was hanging out with more than I cared about my own happiness. I was friends with people I didn’t really like just because I thought they would make me look cooler. I wasted so much time trying to impress the wrong people by be something I’m not. Something finally clicked the summer before senior year, and I realized that even though high schools feels like your whole life, it’s such a fleeting, temporary moment of our lives. We’re not going to look back and remember what brand our jeans were. We’re going to look back and laugh about all the good times we had with friends. So surround yourself with good people that you enjoy being around and focus what you think of yourself, not what others think of you.

2. DON’T BE AFRAID OF TEACHERS.

For most of high school, I had an irrational fear of asking questions if I didn’t understand a concept. I don’t know if I was scared of looking dumb in front of my classmates or just too shy. I had a teacher at one point who would repeatedly call me out in class for looking confused and asked if I had a question. Instead of fessing up and asking, I usually just politely said no. Looking back, that was the stupidest thing I could’ve done. I ended up dropping down to a lower level of the class the next semester because I couldn't keep up. Teachers are there to teach—that’s their job. So be a nuisance! Ask them as many questions during class as it takes to understand. Show up during free periods and get extra help. Ask if they’re willing to stay after school and go over things with you. Not only will this definitely improve your grades, but it will show your teacher that you care and are making an effort.

3. SCHOOL IS IMPORTANT BUT TAKE IT EASY.

Yes, grades and test scores are important, but so is your sanity. Everyone always told me that junior year would be the hardest year of high school, but I guess I just peaked early and hit my rough point sophomore year. There were nights when I just didn’t sleep and stayed up studying and studying the night before a test. I could’ve probably benefited from a lesson in time management, but mostly I just needed to chill out. School can be hard, especially if you’re taking Honors or AP courses, but it doesn’t have to be unbearable. Take some time for yourself to just relax. One bad quiz grade isn’t going to blow your chances of getting into a good college. Studying is vital to academic success, but balance is the key. Don’t send yourself into a panic the night before a test or beat yourself up over a B on a project. Try your best and it’ll all work out the way it’s meant to.

4. GET INVOLVED.

Quite possibly my biggest regret of high school. I had an excuse for everything. I told myself I wasn’t athletic enough to try out for any school team. I told myself I was too busy for student government. I psyched myself out of doing anything besides academics. I only went to a handful of games and didn’t even go to a single pep rally my senior year. And yet for some reason, I couldn’t understand why I always felt lonely. Join clubs to make friends that have similar interests as you, it's so much easier that way. It’s scary to put yourself out there, but it’s so important to your happiness.

It feels like a lifetime, but once you’re at the end, you realize just how fast it goes by. Do what you can to make sure you’ve enjoyed it.