The Arrow Summer 2019

A Word to the

Class of 2020

– Molly Williams

Good Morning, There are a few words of advice I would give to the rising Class of 2020 going into your senior year of high school

Quit comparing yourself to others. You might hear others bragging about their 4.0 un-weighted GPA, high ACT score, or prestigious universities they got into. I know personally, it can be hard to proud of your own achievements, when everyone else seems to be doing so much better than you. Or right when you talk about your new and improved test score, others jump to the occa sion of trumping your accomplishments. But first of all, I think it is good to take what others brag about with a grain of salt. That is not to call everyone a liar, but in my own experience, sometimes things are not always what they appear to be. Secondly I have found it best to drown out the extra noise and instead focus on how my successes will help me. The reality is, it is impossible to fairly compare yourself to others because each person holds a different set of skills and talents. Choosing where you will be attending college is perhaps one of the greatest and most stressful challenges you will have faced come senior year of high school. It is important to have a good mix of universities. You probably already know you should select a few safety, target, and reach schools. And you might already have your eyes set on one particular institution, but it’s impor tant to always look at alternatives too. A lot of times others will choose a school for superficial reasons such as it’s big name, fun reputation, or because “all of their friends” go there. What is of primary importance is that the school you inevitably choose to attend, makes you comfort able, happy, and provides you with the opportunity to thrive, both socially and academically. Dr. Seuss wrote in Oh the Places You’ll Go , “You’ll get mixed up, of course, as you already know. You’ll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go. So be sure when you step, step with care and great tact and remember that Life’s a Great Balancing Act.” Don’t just focus on May, focus on today. It can be hard to balance living in the moment whilst making decisions which will impact the next four years of your life and beyond. But I find it important to remember the little things, such as, your last first day of school. It is okay to get sentimental every once in a while. The reality is, the big moments make up such a small por tion of your life. You might at times think “once I graduate” or “when I get this” I’ll finally be happy. Instead, take the time to enjoy your life and its current circumstances. People who just look forward to holidays or the end of something, often miss out on the things which comprise the exact definition of living. Just focusing on the next occasion can become a habit very eas ily, and is not one which you want to keep with you for the rest of your life. As the wonderful sage Ferris Bueller once said, “Life moves pretty fast, if you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you might miss it.”