Love, Me by Samantha

Love, Me by Samantha - April 2016 Scholarship Essay

In retrospect, hindsight is 20/20. I spent my high school years trying to please everyone, trying to fit in, and trying to be well-liked, but for what purpose? It truly doesn’t matter in the end. As I near my graduation date, marking the end of my high school career, I see now that what others think of you doesn’t hold as much weight as you might think. After I graduate, I will probably never see my peers again. Who cares if some girl thought your homemade lunch was weird, who cares if your embarrassing mom dropped you off too close to school, who cares if you were the only person who refused to drink that beer? You are more aware of yourself than others are of you, and we meditate on events that are in reality, insignificant. The opinions of others fade quickly, and do not determine your value. In all honesty, once you graduate, everyone but your close friends become irrelevant. Your schoolmates were just another group of people passing through your life, and if they didn't add meaning or substance to your life, then their opinions weren’t worth obsessing over in the first place. True friends are the ones that speak truth into your life, who support you even if you’ve let them down, and who show you an unconditional positive regard. All the hours I spent obsessing over whether people liked me, or crafting my decisions to make sure I didn’t end up on people’s bad sides, could’ve been delegated to other activities or hobbies that would’ve brought me much more joy than worrying about people.
Also, I would advise my younger self to spend time with people she actually likes. All too often I found myself hanging out with the “cool crowd” just to feel as if I were a part of things. At first, it was thrilling, but afterwards I was always left with a feeling of emptiness. I later realized that I would rather spend my time with people I can actually connect with and make memories with. The popular kids aren’t all that they’re cracked up to be, and if you find yourself a solid group of friends, you won’t worry about being popular anymore. It is truly enough to simply have the knowledge that you are loved and have a great group of friends to fall back on. As long as you’re content with how you’re living and with the decisions you make, you don’t need to look to other people or your status to have a great high school experience. All you really need is three close friends who will love you and cherish you and who take you on adventures. Spend time with people who build you up and always remember each day. Love yourself, love others, and find joy in the little moments.