So, I'm an upperclassman

These past two years have gone by so quickly.

It feels like only yesterday that I attended Preview the Ridge, aka freshman orientation. I was starry-eyed and eager, ready to take on any challenge that came my way. I was going to join a hundred bajillion clubs, do cross-country and cheerleading, and go on crazy spring break trips with my friend group.

Let's just say I was a little over-confident. I dropped all clubs but Student Council and Beta, discovered I could not run for even half of a mile, and found myself without the best friend I'd had since fifth grade.

Starting sophomore year, I told myself I'd achieve all three of my lofty goals:

1. Get an SAT score of over 1550,

2. Get into GHP for Voice, and

3. Go to the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).

I only managed the first goal, so I spent around two months moping and feeling sorry for myself. (Crying in the AP Bio closet for 15 minutes after receiving my Science Fair result was definitely not on my list of top 10 awesome high school moments.)

In 2 days, I'll officially be a junior, swerving all the confused freshmen and rolling my eyes at the couples holding hands in the hallway.

Here's what I wish I knew when I was just starting high school:

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Prioritize your health

I am making a valiant effort this year to sleep, eat, and move more. For me, it means getting 7 to 8 hours of sleep instead of 5, eat breakfast and more protein overall, and moving intentionally 5 or 6 days a week.

Now armed with a car and a gym membership, I can choose between lifting weights, walking around the neighborhood with my aunt, or taking a Zumba or yoga class.

I feel better mentally and stronger physically than I ever have before. I'm not going to lie, I'm prone to mood swings and sad days that can turn into weeks. These things aren't always preventable, but having this health thing down does really help.

You'll find your people

Best Friends Forever, also known as "BFFs", was a concept created by Claire's to sell false hope and dreams, packaged in friendship bracelets, and corrupt the minds of young, innocent children. Source: Trust me, bro.

That's how it must've happened, because BFFs don't exist, and they never will because forever doesn't exist.

Sorry, but it doesn't. And what I've learned is that that's okay. In my 16 years of life (which, comparatively, is not a lot, but stick with me here), I've gotten to know a lot of people who, as people do, have come and gone.

That's the nature of us humans: entering one another's lives, serving our purpose, then bidding farewell once the job is complete.

If I had never learned to love and lose, I'd never have opened my heart to the people I know now. Wyattonix, my a capella group. AP Bio Table 1. Chem Squad. Stuco Girls (the featured image is of us on a camping trip).

Try it and fail, repeat until something sticks

In late May, I had absolutely no plans for the summer. For a gal who loves to dream and has had a four-year plan since 8th grade, that was nerve-wracking.

I had my plan (GHP), then my backup plan (research at UGA). When those two fell through, I cursed at myself for not making a backup-backup plan.

The theme of my sophomore year was failure, and boy did I fail.

But the important thing was that I didn't give up. I called the owner of a non-profit organization, just in time to start as a camp tutor the following day. I never would've guessed that the summer would end in me preparing to start and lead the chorus program at Next Generation Focus.

Although failures feel all-consuming in the moment, there's always a light on the other side of the tunnel. As for research, I'm still holding out for next year!

Be nicer to your mom

There's not much to say about this one. I know it's a part of growing up–puberty and hormones and all of that–but the reality that I'm moving out soon has finally caught up to me.

Maybe it's the nostalgia kicking in, or the fear of not having Mom's rice to eat. Either way, I miss her already.

It's about the journey, not the destination

...Okay, but what does this mean?

Why, thanks for asking, valued reader.

Pit-stops are achievements: end of semester reports, AP exams, program acceptances, perfect performances, etc.

In the past, I'd been so focused on reaching these pit-stops that I could hardly remember the things that happened in between. Then, when something didn't go my way, I was devastated until I could find another piece of validation to keep me afloat.

Wyattonix's mess-ups at Winter Showcase are so infuriating to me, while the recordings of our trash first practices are such cherished and valued memories.

Why should that be the case? In the end, I want to be content and satisfied, not angry at myself for getting a B on that series test in Calculus.

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And so, I'm an upperclassman.

I actually did go to Preview the Ridge a couple of days ago to promote Student Council as Vice President. I even sang the National Anthem at a Braves game with my bestest chorus friends.

Failure is just a mindset, so I take it back–sophomore year was not a year of failure, it was a year of learning.

Life is good, it's going great, and it will be even better.

Bye for now!