To High School Freshman,

High school. It’s the ups and downs, the good and the bad, and the best years of your life (until college of course). It’s about that boy that breaks your heart, the best friends that are there to catch you when you fall and the countless nights you can’t remember. It’s about the experiences, memories, and regrets. It’s about learning. It’s about being old enough to know but young enough not to care. High school is about living before you have to grow up, and for me and the rest of the Class of 2015, I guess it’s over.

“It’s your freshman year and you’re gonna be here for the next for years in this town.”
In the spirit of Taylor Swift, you’re only a freshman and you have so much ahead of you, hook ups, make ups, break ups, -more drama. But that’s kind of the fun of it. Maybe you’ll get a boyfriend, or go to prom, or make the Varsity team and the Honor Roll. You’ll take the SAT and apply to college and grow up. It all seems so far away- but it’s only 4 years, and I know everyone tells you this but the time really is going to fly. They say that beginnings are scary, endings are usually sad, but it’s what you do in between that counts the most, this can’t be more true than it is now.
As I leave high school as an older, wiser version of my freshman self, and once again stand as a freshman, I would like to leave the incoming freshman some advice...

1. Cherish it. Life is never going to be as easy as it is now. Sure, you’re stressed of course you are, but you still have endless chances to get things right. Take everything in, this small town and the people in it who have raised you- your family, your friends, your teachers, your coaches. Keep them close for when you need them (and you most definitely will because despite your freshman mindset, you are not invincible).

2. Focus on your future. I know it’s easy to get wrapped up in the excitement of high school. It’s cool to talk to the upperclassman or get invited to a party but these things will only get you so far. Work hard in school, hand in assignments on time, study for your tests, do your homework. Trust me, one day you will either be thanking me or wishing you had followed my advice.

3. Stop worrying about what other people think. This is something I wish someone had told me when I was back in your shoes. It doesn’t matter what people think, if you like to wearing your hair curly because it’s easier than straightening it every day then do it, if wearing sweatpants every day of the week is more comfortable than typical skinny jeans then do it, if you like to wear makeup because it makes you feel good then do it. Stop basing your actions based on what other people will think, to be honest with you I don’t think it matters that much to them anyway. The sooner you learn this, the happier you will be.

4. Growing up is never easy. You hold onto things that were, you wonder what’s to come. You try so hard to hold onto parts of your childhood while trying to become too old, too fast. Your friends will change and although it’s hard and sometimes sad, it’s a part of growing up. You’ll fight with your parents, another part of the process, but remember to always kiss them goodnight because they love you more than you can even imagine.

5. Remember that everything happens for a reason. You may not know why now, or ever for that matter but it’s all part of the big picture. Everything is leading to something. They say sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.

My dear high school freshman, one day you will be in my shoes, getting ready to leave the only place and people you’ve ever known. My only hope for you is that you can look back on your high school days with pride and a smile. I am sure this advice can apply in the new time of my life, as a college freshman, but the difference is you only get to do high school once.

High school... and for me, it’s already gone.

With Love,

Cole McConnachie

Class of 2015