A look back. (High School Emotions)

When I was in high school I wish I could have looked to my future self and asked the question “does it get better,” “will I ever get through this?” Worrying about my clothes, boys, boyfriends, and friends was too much work for a teenager.

I went to two high schools growing up. I spent freshmen and senior years at Carmel High School in Carmel Indiana, and the two between at George Jenkins Senior High in Lakeland Florida. I loved Florida, and it was where a majority of these questions came into play.

That long hair.. while ice skating.. hi Elsa.

1.  Here is a list of things I wish I would have known then.
2. You don’t have to wake up super early every day to straighten your hair and put in hair extensions, no one cares! (and if they do they wont matter in a year or two)
3.  Quit bleaching your hair!! You will regret it. No matter how pretty it is now.
4. You don’t have to wear a face full of makeup to school, you just need some mascara and maybe some powder, move along.
5. If people want to talk about you, let them. The ones who said things about you are not doing ANYTHING with their lives when you’re older.
6.  If he lies about little things, chances are he lies about the big things.
7.  Listen to you friends about the guys you’re dating, they will tell you what you are too stupid to see.
8.   Go out with your girlfriends; don’t ditch them for any boys.
9. Go to the high school football games no matter how much your team sucks.
10. Hang out with your mom.
11. Don’t feel bad for not drinking at parties; you will never regret driving sober.
12. If he cheats once say goodbye! Don’t be rock steady when he keeps crumbling. NOT WORTH YOUR TIME.



Chicks before Di....udes

13. Don’t think fighting is a part of your relationship, its never okay, don’t justify it by saying “Its just how we are.” It’s not healthy.

I think back to all the things that made me sad, mad, and even things that made me happy, not all the reasoning behind those feelings were valid. There were times I was angry with an ex and I should have been angry with myself for sticking around. There were times I was happy with the guy I was dating because he did one sweet thing, but that one thing hardly cast a shadow on all the crap he put me through.

I never regret anything in my past, I just learn from it. That was always so important to me, making my own mistakes. Most of the time it SUCKED, but I genuinely feel like it made me a stronger person. I’m glad I had people to guide me, but it was very important that they let me make errors, without those errors I wouldn’t be able to detect similar faults in the future. It really comes down to a learning experience.

No matter the feelings you have, happy or sad, they may not always be valid. Although they may feel acceptable at that moment, it might be something you look back on and realize it was an overreaction. There is never anything wrong with a mistaken emotion, as long as you know why it was wrong. If I were to currently be in those relationships that caused me so much pain back then I doubt I would be happy now, but back then I would have said, “It will get better!”

Luckily God had a plan for me, and it was to meet a wonderful guy who actually treated me like a princess. Now I’m in a relationship I want to brag about rather than hide or pretend it’s “going to work out!” I’m happy with where I am, and although I may not have been genuinely happy with where I was, at least I know I gained a lot from being there.