I used to think high school was about doing everything. Playing sports, joining every club, saying yes to every opportunity. And I don’t regret that, as I believe the grind of high school has many important values to it. But eventually, I started thinking less about how much I was doing, and more about why I was doing it.
What people don’t tell you about being “involved” is that it can start to feel like a performance. When you’re always moving — sports, studying, meetings, events — you want to be someone people can count on, but along the way, it’s easy to forget that you count too. Especially throughout senior year, I learned that high school shouldn’t be about becoming someone perfect who’s involved in everything. It should be about becoming someone real. And being real means figuring out what you care about, even if it’s not what looks good on paper.
Once I started focusing more on the “why” I was doing things, I realized how much the small stuff matters. Not just the roles or the outcomes, but how you carry yourself while doing it. If I’ve learned anything from the past four years, it’s that being kind to people, no matter how busy or burnt out you are, can go a long way. Not performative, over-the-top kindness. Just the regular kind. Saying thank you. Being patient. Holding the door for students running into school late so they don’t have to put in their code. It’s easy to compare yourself and get caught up in who’s doing the most, but the way you treat people and how they remember you ends up meaning more than the titles or the grades.
Looking back, I don’t think high school was ever about trying to do it all. I think it was about understanding what genuinely matters to you — and more than that, just having fun. If there’s one thing I’ve come to believe, it’s that your energy is the most important currency you have. Spend it well. Say yes when it counts, protect your energy, and don’t underestimate the value of just being a good person.