Sweet memory: Adeena (centre) sharing a joyful moment with her high school friends.
IN my first year of high school, a senior told us that our time there would feel like just five seconds.
I laughed it off, convinced that time couldn’t possibly move any slower.
But now, having reached the end of my high school journey, I finally understand what he meant.
“Five seconds” later, here I am, looking back.
High school, for me, was undeniably a time of growth – both physically and intellectually.
It was filled with bittersweet memories: triumphs and losses, friendships and heartbreaks, lessons and regrets.
Each of these moments shaped me into the person I am today. They also taught me valuable lessons that will forever change my outlook on life.
Enjoy every moment
High school is full of special moments – trying to study during prep only to end up chatting for two hours, singing along to music with friends or laughing our hearts out over a hearty meal in the dining hall.
These moments of pure joy are the most precious memories you’ll have.
However, my high school life was by no means all sunshine and rainbows. In fact, there were many intense, overwhelming moments that, at the time, felt like the world was ending.
But these struggles are just as important as the joys. The unbearable days, the failures, the insecurities – all of these teach you how to deal with life. Every moment, both good and bad, is part of your journey.
Stress is inevitable, but youth is temporary. If I could go back, I’d remind myself to slow down and appreciate the moments in between – to enjoy every laugh and tear because they’ll be the ones I cherish most.
It’s like Billy Joel sings in his song Vienna (one of my comfort songs during my school years): “Slow down, you crazy child, and take the phone off the hook and disappear for a while. It’s alright, you can afford to lose a day or two. When will you realise Vienna waits for you?”
Take every chance
The most valuable things I learnt came from activities outside books and exams.
They came from stepping outside my comfort zone – joining clubs, participating in competitions, and putting myself out there even when I was afraid of failure.
High school is full of opportunities, and the more you seize, the more you grow.
Sometimes, being so afraid of failing when you try something new holds you back more than actual failure ever has.
For me, my time spent working towards my Queen’s Guide award taught me lessons I’ll keep for a lifetime. It taught me to plan and space out my workload, collaborate with others and, most importantly, take breaks so I don’t burn out.
Though I seized quite a few opportunities in high school, I still wish I had done more – there was so much I wish I had tried.
The times I hesitated and the moments I let self-doubt creep in are what I regret, not the things I tried and didn’t succeed at.
If I had the chance to do things differently, I would push myself even further, take on new challenges without hesitation, and embrace every learning experience outside the classroom –because the world is bigger than textbooks and tests, and sometimes, the best learning comes from experiences you never expected to have.
Foster genuine friendships
As teenagers, it’s natural to want to fit in, sometimes even convincing ourselves that certain friendships are meant to last – just because that’s what we want to believe.
I wanted to belong, to have that “perfect” group of friends like in the movies. However, the best friendships are the ones that happen unexpectedly and never feel like an obligation.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learnt is that genuine friendships cannot be forced.
It took me a while to truly understand that it’s okay to outgrow friendships, just as it’s okay for others to outgrow you.
Not everyone who walks into your life is meant to stay forever, and that doesn’t make the time you spent together any less meaningful.
Most importantly, you should surround yourself with people who genuinely care about you and make you feel safe to be yourself.
If I could go back, I’d remind myself to be patient and trust that the right people will come. It’s far better to have a few true friends who truly understand you than to force connections that leave you feeling alone in a crowded room.
With that being said, while there are many things I would have done differently, I wouldn’t change the lessons I’ve learnt.
To anyone still on their schooling journey, enjoy it.
Laugh a little louder, cry a little harder and feel every moment deeply. Before you know it, moments will become memories.
Adeena, 18, a student in Melaka, is a participant of the BRATs Young Journalist Programme run by The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) team.
For updates on the BRATs programme, go to facebook.com/niebrats.
With the theme of the article in mind, carry out the following English language activities.
1 What do you hope to achieve by the end of your high school journey? Make a list. Does it include growth in knowledge, skills, relationships and accomplishments? Compare your list with your friends’. What can you learn from one another?
2 Do you have a schoolmate who inspires you? Describe this person without mentioning his or her name.
The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) programme promotes English language learning in primary and secondary schools nationwide.
For Star-NiE enquiries, email starnie@thestar.com.my.
