11 Things I learned From High School

Hey guys!

As I am DONE with high school, I want to talk about 11 things I learned/I wish I knew before coming into it. It is all based on my personal experience, however, I'm happy, if you can relate

1. Grades DO Define YouThere is a very common misconception among high-schoolers, that says that grades do not define you. They do! To a certain extent, but they very much do. Here is what your grade fundamentally covers in itself:- work ethics- time management skills- ability to comprehend the material- self-disciplineYes, it doesn't define how good of a person you are, but in the modern world, if you have a certain professional goal, you must be the best you can in academics

2. Group Projects Aren't Really Real
That may sound very judgemental, but I found that group projects in high school is just an opportunity to avoid responsibility for the most part, but not to work cooperatively, or learn new skills. This is because some group project partners are assigned involuntarily, leading to some awkwardness during work. That being said, the ability to work with new partners is a very important skill, even though it may be uncomfortable. What I'm trying to say here, is that the schools have to arrange some workshops or something to promote, teach, and encourage group work 

3. A Lot of Closed Competition
Have you ever had somebody random asking about your grades, and then your study tips and advice? If yes, it may (not always, though) mean that somebody is closely competing with you, and using your own advice against you. Don't get me wrong, helping your fellow classmates is extremely important for their, and your own benefit, however, make sure you do not just share this information with strangers, in order to avoid closed competition. 
You have to understand, that competition, in any of its kind, will follow you throughout your life, and that is why you must keep some information closed from strangers

4. Get Involved
Those 4 years spent in high school make me wish I would be even more involved than I was. The reason for this is not only that it will look brilliant on your post-sec applications, but also it will teach you very valuable life skills, such as independency, collaboration, responsibility, time management, communication, etc. 

5. Not Everyone is Your Friend
Referring back to point 3, there is a lot of competition involved in your high school career. That being said, do not trust your personal information to strangers, and even your classmates, since you don't know them well enough to tell them everything you feel. Respectively, do not demand sharing their own secrets from someone, and respect people's privacy

6. Everyone Has Their Own Story
You will most likely often experience awkward situations in high school, where you will be judging people without knowing or encountering all their personal circumstances. Do not be such person, and never judge someone without knowing their reasoning.

7. Popularity Means Very Little
If you are concerned with your popularity, just keep in mind, that it won't matter at all as you graduate. It means that you are very social and likeable, so good for you, but do not put yourself above others. 
If you are a "victim" of popular individuals (as it sometimes happens) at your school, be strong enough to understand, that the reason why you are bothered by them, is because you are worth attention, in the good sense. Also, remember that popularity in high school really means close to nothing, so don't take it all seriously 

8. Get to Know Your Teachers
Getting to know your teachers will help you in 3 things:
- learning about their academic preferences (style of writing/presenting, answering a question, etc.), therefore, improve your grades
- meeting a new person with their stories
- get a reference letter
Teachers are a wonderful source of guidance and advice, and they are also people, like us :)
Treat them with respect, and if you don't really like your teacher, still, try to respect their actions and intentions, and try to be communicative with them

9. Use The Resources
Some high schools more than others, but all have some resources to share. Whether it would be a nice, quiet study space, a library, a resource centre, extensive guidance counselling, connections, etc. use all of it to maximise your potential

10. Be Open-Minded
That tip is contradicting to everything I've said about competition and trust in high school, but remember that you WILL find the group of people whom you can share your interests with, and who will support you in your beginnings. Practice being a good friend and/or classmate, since the majority of those social skills are learned in high school! 

11. Never Gossip
Fundamentally, you should respect people's right to privacy. Sure, you are not a doctor, and haven't given an oath, but just be a polite and a trustworthy individual. Gossips distribute very fast, and even if you are really tempted to release a certain rumour, beware that somebody might do the same thing to you. Will you like it?...
So be your best judge.