Helaina B., Northmont Middle School
Unpredictable
When you buy a lottery ticket you never know what you’re going to get out of it. You could win the jackpot, a small amount, or nothing at all. Going into it completely blind, you don’t have any knowledge of the outcome. Nothing in your life is guaranteed to happen. Like the toss of a coin, it’s all unpredictable.
Navigating your teen years isn’t any different. With constant fear and anxiety of growing up, it’s hard to think of how you’ll get through it. I thought the exact same going into middle school. During the 7th grade, I was constantly quiet and kept to myself. I talked to pretty much no one and grew to the point I was terrified to speak to others and show my face. I was wearing a mask, both literally and figuratively, to hide myself. I wanted to express myself better and to have better connections with people. I knew I couldn’t just wait for that to be handed to me on a silver platter, so I worked to gain the confidence to communicate. You have to be able to dedicate yourself to get what you want.
Discovering who you are and exploring your identity is also an important part of making it through high school. Taking more opportunities and figuring out what you like to do is an example. Try out that one activity you thought was cool, try that activity your friend is doing, try something entirely different, and try something that will make you happy. Finding comfort and happiness in various things will help to keep you ‘alive’ during the teenage years.
While high school is presented smooth as butter in television and ‘reality’ shows, it’s not all that. High school is like walking a tightrope, feeling as if you have to be cautious with every decision you make and direction you go. Some steps are easier to take. Sometimes the smallest mistake can bring you down, losing balance off of the tightrope and quickly falling down below. But there’s always somebody or something to catch you once you fall. Perseverance is the key to success during these times.
You should never be ashamed of how you get through your teenage years. Everyone has different experiences and different standards. Devoting to your desires, trying out new things, and persevering through your mistakes. Following these plans and just straight up being you will help you make your way through these rough years.
