The list of top 500 high schools in the country came out the other day, and the only reason I know this is because it kept repeatedly popping up on my Facebook newsfeed. Millburn High School prides itself on being the top public school in New Jersey, which I admittedly cannot directly take credit for. But I nonetheless utilized it throughout the college application process, always finding a way to squeeze in that little tidbit of info that I attended a top public school in hopes it would make me the "best" by association. Transitive property, am I right?
Curious as to how MHS was holding up without me, I clicked on one of the dozens of links shared by fellow alumnae to find Millburn High School at lucky number 13. With an eye roll and smirk, I closed the tab and carried on with my life.
I had a satisfiable time in high school, coming out with a sheet of paper known as my diploma, endless inapplicable knowledge, great friends that I'll [poorly] keep in touch with, and universally basic high school memories of ditching class, playing beer pong in random people's basements, Friday night football games, so on and so forth. I love reminiscing on the past just as much as the next person, but all of those things are just that; things of the past.
I could imagine them doing this while their egos boost quicker than their GPAs did after midterms, as if naming Millburn High School the 13th best public school in the country is at all relevant to their lives during this point in time. There are people (attempting at) continuing to thrive off of these days of the past, and firmly believing high school was IT, holding the utmost importance and setting the tone for the rest of our lives. These are the people who peaked in high school.
If you're reading this and thinking to yourself, "Did I peak in high school?" I'm sorry my friend, but no, you did not peak in high school. Apparently second guessing yourself is literally a sign that you didn't peak in high school. If you peaked in high school, you'd know. But perhaps you subconsciously know you did, and pondering the thought that you're still climbing your way to the top is your way of denying coping with the fact that you graduated, however many years later it may be.
While some were busy peaking, I was developing traits that I personally think will come in handy much more than anything I could have learned while actually paying attention to my surroundings.
Work Ethic
Nothing ever came easy to me, except for falling asleep. On a list of things I'm good at, sleeping is probably number one. But this talent didn't allow me to hold much of an authority. As a result I'd have to work a little bit harder than my peers, requiring me to physically ask someone to copy their homework instead of them just giving it to me. Having done this throughout high school, it's prepared me for the real world where nothing is handed to you, and the college mentality of "every man for himself."
Psychic Abilities
Getting ghosted isn't just a playful tradition we did in middle school of someone ringing your doorbell and running away, surprising you with a bag of candy on your doorstep and a message letting you know you've been anonymously "ghosted." Being ghosted in the real world is actually quite the opposite. There's no message making you aware of the situation, nor is there anything sweet involved. The only things you're left with are the confusion of "why won't s/he just text back?" and the frustration that there's nothing you can do about it, because spoiler alert: you're no longer anybody's priority. I've learned from experience when there's a better option, people usually go for that one, whether it's a friend group or a prom date.
There are plenty of fish in the sea, and young adults intend to test the waters as thoroughly as possible, regardless of an individual's high school social or academic status. Having much experience with this in high school, the essence of surprise in being "ghosted" in the real world is absent because unlike finding a formal date, it's expected.
Freedom
Just like the Kardashians, nobody is actually keeping up with me. It's not that I wasn't relevant in high school, because I certainly was. Without my grades and sympathetic teachers, numerous tests would probably have remained un-curved or unscaled. If Millburn High School was US Weekly, I wouldn't be on the cover. But the events of my life might've made it into a few feature stories over the years. Although it may not have occurred to some individuals to check up on me and see if I was available to attend their awesome parties to soak up each other's awesomeness, I still showed up to be welcomed with open arms (and beer).
Immunity
Honestly, nobody cares what anybody did, or is currently doing. The only way people are caught up on each other's lives post-graduation is through run-ins at delis/coffeeshops/malls/etc. during school breaks when both parties fail at avoiding eye contact, obligating the individuals to partake in a forced conversation.
I don't have to worry about being the kid who never stops talking about high school because I just don't have anything to say on the matter. Furthermore, I don't have to be concerned about someone from my past planning revenge against me for the future, like in those creepy movies, because I'm almost positive I had little to no affect on anybody except for my group of friends, during my high school career.
