Do More of What Makes You Smile by Alicia

Do More of What Makes You Smile by Alicia - November 2014 Scholarship Essay

Adults everywhere will tell you that your experiences in high school are “the best years of your life”. If you’re like many students, you might groan, roll your eyes to the sky and wonder, “this is it?” But it doesn’t have to be that way. You’re in charge of the years ahead of you so you might as well make them worth your while.

After four years and three different high schools, I could consider myself an expert on getting through school. High school is not easy. You’ll face more work, responsibilities, and social pressures than you ever had to deal with in middle school. At a graduation I attended not so long ago, I heard a sentence that helped me to figure out how to quiet the pains of high school: “Do more of what makes you smile.”

Your first day of high school is coming and it’s quite a sight. You’ll see all sorts of people and they’re sort of intimidating. You’ll find hallways that don’t connect and hear words you didn’t even know existed. Looking around that first week, you’ll wonder if you’ll ever be able to navigate the maze of classrooms and expectations that surrounds you. To maneuver through these challenges, start by getting involved. Join a sport, club or organization that you enjoy. Do it to please yourself over pleasing others. That means joining the club your parents or friends are crazy about is not absolutely crucial to surviving the next four years if it is not going to make you happy. That being said, don’t be afraid to try new things, as long as they are not dangerous or illegal. High school is about finding yourself. Learn what you are good at and what you like to do then go out and do it.

No one will be able to make you smile more, laugh as hard, or hurt you as much as the friends you choose to surround yourself with. Sticking around the people who drag you down isn’t worth it. Cut the drama when you can; it may seem exciting for a little while but it’s hard to keep up with and becomes a stress headache. Spend your time with people who like you for who you are and with whom you have things in common. When things get rough, you’ll need people beside you to help you through your trials. Good friends will lift you up and provide some of your fondest memories.

Take care of yourself. It helps to get more than four hours of sleep each night. Eat every day and throw in a couple of veggies or an apple every now and then. Get a little exercise. Brush your teeth. Remembering basic health and grooming helps you to be confident and to smile, even through difficult times. And don’t forget to take care of your mental health. Always scrambling at the last minute to throw together your assignments isn’t good for anyone’s sanity, not even if you’ve become a “pro” at procrastinating. Everyone who’s been there and back can attest to that. Do your homework and study hard to keep your grades up. You’ll be glad you did your senior year when you start looking into colleges and scholarships.

The next four years are going to be full of great chances and opportunities, so don’t miss out on them. Go to football games and volleyball matches. Dance your heart away. Watch some fantastic movies and some terrible ones as well. Every now and again go out with your friends. Never let life go on without you. Take lots of pictures and maybe write in a journal. Live for the moments. Keep in mind that sometimes, you are going to mess up and make mistakes. But don’t ever let the fear of failing stop you from doing something amazing and exciting that you’ll wish you had done later. Your high school years may be about making good grades and making good impressions, but they're also about making some special memories that you’ll reminisce about for years to come.

High school can either be the best experience or the worst experience of your life. But you can make that decision if you spend a little time doing more that makes you smile. So get involved. Surround yourself with good friends and avoid the drama. Take care of yourself and don’t procrastinate too much. Be good and be sure to take some time out to make some good memories and make your high school years a period of no regrets.