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Column: The most important things I've learned from school

Rhea Jones' monthly column Dear Mom & Dad
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As a Grade 12 student I was very thankful to be able to have a graduation ceremony this year.

While it was certainly different from other years, the schools still did a great job of making sure this accomplishment was celebrated and special for all grads.

Inevitably, graduation is a bit of an emotional time. On one hand, there’s the impending sense of nostalgia leaving your school, friends, and significant chapter behind. On the other, there’s readiness and excitement to start a new journey with more freedom and an unlimited amount of opportunities and paths. 

We’ve put in 12 years of hard work learning math, science and English and yet the most valuable lessons I’ve learned throughout school have little to do with scholarly matters. While fresh out of high school and there are still many lessons for me to learn, I do feel that there are some valuable things that I have picked up to this point and would like to share.

The first and most crucial is to be yourself.

I know we’ve all heard this a million times before however, it’s easier said than done to stay authentic throughout school.

School is a very bizarre social setting with tons of young adults trying to figure themselves out.

This can often create pressure to fit in and be liked by everybody. I would be lying if I said I never got caught up in high school politics and sacrificed my authenticity. However, it wasn't until I stopped worrying about what others thought of me and started to express myself unashamedly that I met my closest and dearest friends. 

The reason being yourself is so important is because the energy you put out into the world is the energy that will be attracted back to you.

When you are being authentic is when you will attract the most likeminded and valuable friends who accept you for who you are. Having positive and accepting friends will enrich the high school experience infinitely, so don’t even waste your time trying to please people you have to act or pretend around. 

Lastly, stop comparing yourself.

From elementary to high school there is nothing but comparison.

Who got a better mark on the test? Who’s prettier? Who do people like more? Comparison always leaves you feeling low and it’s usually over the most irrelevant things. The truth is we all have things we are good at and blessed with and we all have things that we struggle with. Trying to rank yourself next to others is only a waste of time and energy that could be used on bettering yourself.

Focus only on yourself, learn how to use your strengths to your advantage and how to overcome your weaknesses and how to love yourself for all your blessings and downfalls as a whole.     

School is a long process of figuring out how to accept, express, and love yourself.

The future holds only more lessons and growth which we can all look forward to. Best of luck to all students still in school and congratulations to the class of 2021.

We should be very proud of all the obstacles we’ve overcome in the last few years.

I wish you all nothing but love and success in your futures.

As a Grade 12 student I was very thankful to be able to have a graduation ceremony this year.

While it was certainly different from other years, the schools still did a great job of making sure this accomplishment was celebrated and special for all grads.

Inevitably, graduation is a bit of an emotional time. On one hand, there’s the impending sense of nostalgia leaving your school, friends, and significant chapter behind. On the other, there’s readiness and excitement to start a new journey with more freedom and an unlimited amount of opportunities and paths. 

We’ve put in 12 years of hard work learning math, science and English and yet the most valuable lessons I’ve learned throughout school have little to do with scholarly matters. While fresh out of high school and there are still many lessons for me to learn, I do feel that there are some valuable things that I have picked up to this point and would like to share.

The first and most crucial is to be yourself.

I know we’ve all heard this a million times before however, it’s easier said than done to stay authentic throughout school.

School is a very bizarre social setting with tons of young adults trying to figure themselves out.

This can often create pressure to fit in and be liked by everybody. I would be lying if I said I never got caught up in high school politics and sacrificed my authenticity. However, it wasn't until I stopped worrying about what others thought of me and started to express myself unashamedly that I met my closest and dearest friends. 

The reason being yourself is so important is because the energy you put out into the world is the energy that will be attracted back to you.

When you are being authentic is when you will attract the most likeminded and valuable friends who accept you for who you are. Having positive and accepting friends will enrich the high school experience infinitely, so don’t even waste your time trying to please people you have to act or pretend around. 

Lastly, stop comparing yourself.

From elementary to high school there is nothing but comparison.

Who got a better mark on the test? Who’s prettier? Who do people like more? Comparison always leaves you feeling low and it’s usually over the most irrelevant things. The truth is we all have things we are good at and blessed with and we all have things that we struggle with. Trying to rank yourself next to others is only a waste of time and energy that could be used on bettering yourself.

Focus only on yourself, learn how to use your strengths to your advantage and how to overcome your weaknesses and how to love yourself for all your blessings and downfalls as a whole.     

School is a long process of figuring out how to accept, express, and love yourself.

The future holds only more lessons and growth which we can all look forward to. Best of luck to all students still in school and congratulations to the class of 2021.

We should be very proud of all the obstacles we’ve overcome in the last few years.

I wish you all nothing but love and success in your futures.

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