Friendly Advice for Second Semester

By Kate Foster

The first semester of the 2021-2022 school year was filled with many ups and downs and the normal emotional turmoil that comes with being a teenager. Coupled with the uptick in COVID cases and the passing of our dear friend, Olivia Passaretti, I think we could all use some tips to guide us through surviving, and thriving, throughout second semester.

1. Carpe Diem. Seize the day.
2. Sleep- your body needs it.
3. Get out of your comfort zone. Whether that is joining a new club or sitting at a new table at lunch, just go for it.
4. Dive in. Do not be afraid of life, it has so much to offer.
5. Rely on friends, old and new. They will be your guideposts for everything. 
6. Remember: Pobody’s Nerfect.
7. Every day is a fresh start.
8. Focus on yourself. Afterall, you can’t pour from an empty cup.
9. Do not believe everything (or anything) you see on social media.
10. Take a break. From your phone, from social media, from doing homework. 
11. Many things are out of your control.
12. You choose your identity. 
13. Grades, friends, and test scores do not define you.
14. Let it go. Whatever is holding you back, let it go.
15. Cut toxic people out of your life, for good.
16. Do not feel ashamed of your emotions. Let it all out. Have a good cry once in a while.
17. Challenge yourself, but do not put too much pressure on yourself.
18. Read. Anything, everything.
19. Pursue your passions. Do everything that you love and do not let anyone or anything hold you back.
20. Seek opportunities, they will not come to you. 
21. Do not change for anyone except yourself.
22. Remember you are still a kid, so live a little.
23. Tell people you love them (yes, that includes your parents).
24. Be organized. Do not just shove all of your homework into one binder and call it quits, you will regret this later.
25. Wear your mask above your nose. We do not want to repeat 2020 again.
26. Go ahead, dye your hair, wear that shirt, pierce your ears (if you want to). You only live once.
27. Be a role model for someone. Younger siblings, cousins, the kids you babysit for. Be the hero in someone else’s story.
28. Being a “try hard” is a good thing.
29. Take pictures and reflect on these memories after you graduate.
30. Life is a journey, not a destination. Do not rush it.
31. Form good study habits now.
32. Do not forget the people who helped you succeed.
33. Do not sacrifice your happiness for anything.
34. Be open to change.
35. Do not beat yourself up over mistakes. Seriously, we are not in a boxing ring.
36. On that note, do not sweat the small stuff.
37. Take what Bob Marley said to heart, “Don’t worry about a thing, because every little thing’s going to be alright.”
38. Take it one step at a time.
39. Do not bite off more than you can chew, you’ll only end up choking.
40. Do not think, “What if I fail?” 
41. Think, “What if I succeed?”
42. Be honest with yourself. 
43. Do not sugarcoat the truth, it will give you a cavity.
44. Live by the golden rule, “Treat others as you wish to be treated.”
45. Find your niche. 
46. Keep moving forward.
47. Enjoy the process. It will be over before you know it.
48. If things do not go according to plan, c’est la vie. 
49. You can find happiness in the most unexpected of places.
50. Make your life extraordinary.

There you go. Fifty nifty tips to help you through second semester. Hopefully you will take these words to heart and make the most out of your high school experience.