From the Interns: My High School Experience

I still remember the day I walked into a room full of unfamiliar teenagers, feeling vulnerable and wondering how I would fit in with people who didn’t even speak my language. But that fear didn’t stop me from trying to make connections. There were people I didn’t get along with, but instead of letting that discourage me, it pushed me to search for communities that would accept me wholeheartedly.

Freshman year was especially stressful because I was still adjusting to a completely new education system. I overloaded myself with extracurriculars, thinking that doing more would make me more successful. Instead, I became burnt out. My grades dropped below average, and I even received warnings from programs I was involved in. I kept trying to balance everything until sophomore year, when I took my first AP class: AP World History. Although I worked hard, I still struggled to manage my academics alongside the pressure of extracurricular activities. My grades continued to slip, and so did my mental health.

For the first time, I stepped back and reflected on the progress I had made over the years. I used to compare myself to others constantly, wondering, “If they can handle five AP classes and countless extracurriculars, why can’t I?” I thought I was lacking discipline or motivation, but eventually I realized the issue wasn’t just time management. I had been ignoring my own limits and capacity. Instead of trying to do everything at once, I started focusing on the activities and subjects I genuinely cared about, rather than pursuing things just for the sake of achievement.
Junior year became one of my favorite years because of that change in mindset. I took AP Biology, a class I truly enjoyed, and I ended up doing well in it. More importantly, I began understanding the value of pursuing passions instead of constantly chasing validation.

In the middle of all these achievements and setbacks, I realized I had forgotten to enjoy the process itself. Getting into a good school with the POSSE scholarship made me happy, but looking back, I wish I had allowed myself to enjoy the journey a little more. For years, my only motivation for going to school was to earn good grades and secure a scholarship for college. By senior year, that mindset caught up to me. My motivation disappeared, procrastination became worse than ever, and I found myself unable to focus unless deadlines were right in front of me. Senioritis hit hard. Instead of paying attention in class, I spent more time talking and laughing with friends, almost as if I was trying to hold onto the moments I had missed before.

Through all of this, I learned something important: success is not only about achievements, grades, or college acceptances. It is also about the memories you make, the friendships you build, and the growth you experience along the way. If I had the chance to relive high school, I probably wouldn’t want to go through all the stress again, but if I had to, I would be less shy and more open to meeting people and enjoying the experience.

High school taught me that everyone moves at their own pace. You may feel like you are not doing enough, but what truly matters is that you are doing your best. Every day you show up to school, learn something new, and continue moving forward, you are making progress. It is okay to push yourself, but pushing yourself too far can lead to burnout and exhaustion. 

Sometimes, the most important thing you can do is take a step back and recognize how far you have already come. Stop comparing yourself to others because everyone is fighting different battles and living under different circumstances. If you cannot do as much as someone else, it does not mean you are not hardworking or capable. It simply means that your journey is different from theirs, and that is completely okay…