The Golden Trident

By Addison Bruce

Photo courtesy of Lila Qualteri

As the end of summer crept upon us, the reality of going into yet another school year set in. For the incoming freshmen who are just as lost as I was, here are 5 things I wish I knew as a sophomore who doesn’t completely know what she’s doing or talking about, but is speaking from her own experience.

1. Procrastination never benefits you. Start when you’re ahead. 

Once you start to lose motivation and begin to procrastinate, it is an endless cycle. Having to finish all your work at once causes stress, and stress is exhausting and overwhelming. Not to mention, there are real impacts from stress like lack of appetite, zero social battery, anxiety, loss of sleep, trouble concentrating, and even headaches. Homework and work assigned in class can seem so scary or demanding that it’s paralyzing, but if you just take it on once it’s assigned, your school year and workload will flow so much easier.

2. You don’t have to know who you are or what you want to do yet; just give it time.

Everybody our age wants to be older nowadays, and I don’t know why. You don’t have to know everything about yourself yet, or where you want to go to college, or what you want to do when you grow up. 

Although this is a cliche in every movie, ad, or show marketed towards teenagers, don’t follow trends unless you want to. There is so much diversity in Golden High School’s friend groups, and no matter how you dress or what you look like, there will be someone who admires you. Just focus on making good friends and keeping your grades high because, at the end of the day, that’s the purpose of school. Focusing on your grades more than your looks or who you surround yourself with will be more worth your time, effort, and stress. 

3. A friend or partner can wait. If you have homework or your grades are lacking, prioritize them!

Friends and social relationships are lovely, and it is important to have them; however, there is a balance. It is crucial for you to do your homework and work in general. At the same time, you also need to find time to hang out with friends for your own mental health, and this is hand in hand with not procrastinating. If you have good friends, you can go months without hanging out, and your relationship will stay the same. Sometimes life gets in the way, and if you guys are truly friends, they will understand. 

Don’t be afraid to prioritize your education. If you get asked to go out, there should be zero pressure to politely decline because you have things to do. If there is tension because of your prioritization of your work, have a conversation with your friends, or consider who you’re around. Seeing each other in school every day and texting is a perfect amount of time to be around people if you need to go home and finish work. 

4. Nobody is looking at you.

Nobody cares enough to hate you for what you wear or who you listen to or what classes you take. They may tease or make fun of you, but that’s a reflection of who they are, not who you are. People will choose to be mean, and all you can do about it is acknowledge that that isn’t who you want to be. Don’t dwell on what someone says about you, use it as a lesson for yourself of who you will never be. There are a lot of insecurities we all have, and those manifest in our heads; most things you see, nobody else notices. In the halls, people are thinking about what their friend just said to them, their talking stage, or the test they aren’t prepared for. Everybody is different, and that variety keeps the world spinning. 

5. You always have a choice to be kind and keep your own peace.

There are going to be interactions that make you want to be rude, but you always have a choice to remain calm and respectful. If you have an opinion that opposes someone else’s opinion and it has relevance, there are ways to convey it without raising your voice or presenting as hostile. Truthfully, from experience, some things are better left unsaid. I am a big believer in saying things that upset people, but if you are too, join the Golden Trident. The thing is, there is a difference between voicing your opinion and just starting arguments for fun. My opinions make some people angry, and some people concur; however, in these situations, I don’t curse or raise my voice. If anything, it makes you less reliable, and your views seem more flawed. There is power in respect.

Freshman year, the first semester was really hard for me. It was full of anxiety and procrastination, but I’m sure this advice will help you through yours. Friendships, grades, and mental health can all be very inconsistent, and that’s normal! There is no way to avoid this year; the only way out is through. One day, you’ll look back and be grateful for the things that will happen this year. I hope all of you had a great summer, and I hope that I helped the freshman who took the time to read in some way. Let’s have a great school year!