My high school career included: co-pres of DECA, managing the school store, working almost every weekend, staying on top of school work, playing soccer in the fall and finding myself at several different club meetings. Many people around the school recognize me as the school store or DECA kid. This is great and all, but doing this means I gave up being what we could call “normal.” My days were a bit more stressful and my social life was not overly exhilarating. 

Back in March, before DECA brought 90 kids to the state competition, I found myself extremely stressed out and venting to a friend. After hearing how I felt and the overwhelming amount of things on my to-do list she proceeded to ask, “Do you regret just not being a kid?” This made me stop and think for a minute: Would I trade in all the stress and time it takes to do everything I do, just to be a “normal kid” who has a little more fun and a little bit more of an exciting social life? 

The conclusion I quickly came to was no, because this is just simply who I am. I prefer to eat my lunch in Mrs. Riley’s office with her. I love being at the school by 7:40 latest and for an hour after the last bell. I enjoy when kids ask me if I am a teacher, dressing business casual to school on occasion for no reason is what makes me happy, and doing good for other people even if it requires me to give something up is what is important to me. 

I do not regret a single stressful second of my high school career because it is who I am, and, in the long run, nothing is more important than doing the things that make you feel good as a human. So maybe I have been a little over the top with my work or an extreme overachiever, but that is what makes me happy and that is what matters most. Doing the things you love in high school will set you up for the rest of your life, so do not be afraid to be yourself. I advise each and every one of you to not let anything defy you and do not be afraid to defy boundaries because, take it from me, someone has to not be “normal.”