You are not alone.
Lately, I have been hearing a lot about how tough high school is. I’ve heard stories of suicide attempts, feeling excluded, and depression that roams the halls of these four years. Hearing this made me think about my own high school experience, and how it wasn’t so fine and dandy.
In the podcast below, you’ll hear about my journey, along with 5 things I would tell my younger self.
5 things I’d tell my high school self:
- It’s okay to hate it. Your feelings are valid.
- Girls get nicer.
- You won’t always feel this awkward (I swear.)
- It ends.
- Persevere and don’t lose hope
In this season of my life, I never thought I would find my people or feel like myself. Looking back four years later, I am so happy I pushed through that time and didn’t stop seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
I remember in the peak of my loneliness, I visited my Young Life leader at OSU. She lived in a house with around 10 other girls, and I was able to see how encouraging and warm the environment was. I remember looking at that house and thinking to myself, If I only had that kind of community.
Seeing this community gave me hope that it was out there for me. I didn’t know if it would be in college or after, but I knew it would come eventually.
Now, I have that community I so hoped for in high school. The kind of friendship that I saw four years ago is what I am experiencing now. I can’t even tell you how blessed I feel to have such an inclusive, encouraging group of friends that I do. All because I didn’t give up hope that God had more for me.
Click on the link above to check out the newest episode of the Grow Through What You Go Through podcast. (Warning: there are tears!) You will not want to miss this one.
What advice would you give someone who is struggling in high school? Comment below!
