Recovery

10 Things You Should Know As A High Schooler

1. Your middle school best friend, the one you share all your laughs with and can't imagine not being friends with, will only be a familiar face that you'll share a smile with across the room during high school graduation.

2. Popularity doesn't matter. At all. Be nice to everyone, don't be stuck up with who you talk to, stay down to earth. Take the time to get to know those who you normally wouldn't, and you'll be very surprised.

3. The loneliness you feel right now is not permanent. There will be a moment, maybe months or weeks from now, where you will feel this overwhelming warmness, and you will look around at the people surrounding you and think, hey maybe all that sadness was worth getting to this point and you will smile and everything will be okay.

4. Don't get sucked into the "I'm too cool to study" phase. Stop glorifying Netflix, going to sleep late, and barely getting your work done. Find your motivation and don't let anyone hold you back. There will be kids at school who will love to brag, "I didn't study for this test" and "Oh dude I stayed up till 1am last night." I promise that doesn't make them cool or bad ass. Give it your all and you will reap your benefits.

5. Don't lose your spontaneity - don't get sucked into the same rigid routine. Regularity is great but you can't lose your spark. Enjoy yourself.

6. When you're having a bad night, just go to sleep. Seriously, turn your phone off, close the computer, and get into bed. I promise that is the only solution.

7. When someone invites you to plans, always say yes. Even if you're exhausted, curled up watching a movie in pajamas. Even if you feel like you want some alone time, say yes. You won't regret the experiences.

8. Remind yourself that being the "cool girl" doesn't mean drinking beer and letting guys step all over you.

9. Not everyone will like you, and that's okay. Stop trying to please everyone- it's impossible.

10. It's not weird going to places alone - you don't always need a friend to enjoy yourself. Go for a walk, a bike ride. Read at your coffee shop, take yourself out to lunch, drive somewhere interesting. You are alive, you are full of life and energy and so much potential.