Now that school has ended and graduation is over, you may be feeling overwhelmed with all the advice you’re getting from friends and family. If you just want to party and relax, that’s fine, but first make sure you take some time to learn these important life lessons.
Important Words Of Wisdom For Life After High School
At this point in your life you will have to make a lot of decisions, some of which you won’t know are good or bad until you make them. Everyone makes some mistakes, but if you see them as opportunities to learn and grow, they sting less.
1. Live to love
Pay it forward – it may be the only act of true kindness that person experiences their entire life. Whether you are a romantic or not, I urge you to consider love as the foundation for everything you do. Love is the currency of life, and its presence or absence can motivate people to do extraordinary things. At some point in your life, someone will do something for you that you don’t deserve but need. In return, it is your responsibility to do something for them. This responsibility is given to every single one of us, regardless of our age, wealth, or family status. Return the favor—it may be the only act of true kindness that person experiences in their lifetime.
You need to love what you do and the people you do it with. You need to love yourself and let others love you. Everyone shows love in different ways, but love is always present.
2. Master money
If you get a student loan, do not spend it frivolously. It is real money that you will have to pay back with your real job, which you may or may not get for some time after graduation. And if you don’t graduate, you will still have to pay back the loan.
Some people think that money is the most important thing in life, but this is not true. Money is important, but it is not the most important thing. Sometimes you will have none, sometimes you will have some. You’ll probably realize while having comfortable finances does make parts of life smoother, it doesn’t have the power to really fix anything. There will be a day (if it hasn’t already happened) your parents will not bail you out financially, because the best thing they can do sometimes is to let you figure it out on your own. That is love.
3. ALWAYS talk to others & ask questions
Although it may take some time to get used to, this is very practical advice. In college, and in life in general, you will find yourself in situations where you need a resolution but it seems like no one has the answer you are looking for. You have to keep digging. This is one of the most important lessons you will learn in college. Don’t accept the first answer you get, whether it’s a “no” to accepting a transfer class, getting into a class, or getting financial aid, or an issue with a teacher, etc.
You will constantly face situations in life where people try to take advantage of you, or tell you it’s too late for something when it’s not. It’s amazing what you can accomplish by simply speaking up for yourself. However, sometimes it’s best to just let things go.
4. Accept consequences
You will make mistakes in life after high school – this is normal and part of life. Some of these mistakes will be due to carelessness or lack of knowledge, while others may be because you feel like you had no other choice at the time. Whatever the reasons, there will be consequences to your actions, which may not always seem fair. Seek out people who will sympathize with you, as this can be helpful, but remember that everyone makes mistakes and life can be hard.
The choices you make have consequences, some of which may require you to retake a class, fire someone, or pay a fine. The best course of action is to accept responsibility and learn from your mistakes. You may not realize it at the time, but making poor decisions can lead to much worse consequences. Be grateful that things didn’t turn out worse, and keep in mind that they always could have.
5. Cherish your friends
The bonds that you make your freshman year may not be as strong as the ones you had in high school. Your high school friends know you- intimately even. They know your family inside and out, your favorite foods and movies, what kind of clothes you like to wear. The list goes on forever. You’ve probably heard that friendships don’t last after high school, but it just depends. College friends may not last as long as high school friends because interests change and people go to different schools, but college can be a time to make new bonds.
I’m not here to talk to you about sex, I just want to point out that the time you have with your friends will eventually end. You can’t predict what will happen after school, when you start a family or a career. It’s up to you to decide if you want to keep your friendships. They require work and dedication.
6. Be Authentic
While it may be cliché, it is important to be yourself. Being authentic to yourself is necessary to bring peace to your life. If you don’t know who you are or what you want, you’re going to get lost out there. This means that you have to take the time to always reevaluate yourself. The things you have clung to for some time whether it was sports, music, or friendships to help define you won’t be valid forever. Don’t be afraid to ask yourself hard questions.
Being honest means that you have to be truthful with yourself and with others, even if it is embarrassing or difficult. You should also be honest even if it is not convenient or if it gets you into trouble.
7. Realize your parents are real people
You may have figured out that your parents aren’t perfect before you left home for life after high school. If you’re honest with yourself, you probably still turn to them first when you’re in a tough spot. You may not always like what they have to say, but somewhere deep down you know they’ll help you fix your problem.
As you become more mature, you will find yourself in more situations where you catch a glimpse of a deeper truth. You will probably come to understand some of the difficulties they have faced. This will make them seem more human to you, and less like a dictator. You will feel drawn to them because they have so much love, not because they have all the answers.
8. Do what scares you
You will only truly fail when you stop trying. If you want to achieve something you love, it will take courage as it will matter to you. You will experience failures along the way, but don’t let these setback stop you. Persevere and keep pushing until you reach your goals. You will only fail when you give up.
9. Don’t focus too much on “rules”, but do remember this
While you may have expectations for your life, it’s important to remember that many things won’t happen as you plan. Sometimes life will go as planned, but you may not be happy with the outcome. The one thing you can always count on is that life is unpredictable.
You can only control yourself and how you respond to change. Keep in mind that when it comes to the things that matter most to you, the journey may be longer, harder, and more unpredictable than you expect. You may need to adjust your expectations, but all that matters is reaching your destination and enjoying the journey.
10. Learn to embrace challenges rather than avoid them
When you encounter a challenge, think of it as a fun opportunity to learn. Even if you can’t ultimately overcome the challenge, you will have still grown as a person.
11. Don’t blame others
Instead of placing the blame on others, take responsibility for your life and the problems you face.
12. Go to every single class
If the class is boring, take it as an opportunity to improve your focus. If you’ve already learned the material, take it as a chance to review the information.
13. Be grateful
Being grateful makes you happier and more resilient, two essential traits for success in school and in life. No matter what situation you’re in, there’s always something to be thankful for. Being grateful makes you happier and more resilient, two essential traits for success in school and in life.
14. Don’t take shortcuts
Although it may be tempting to take shortcuts, it is important to resist this urge. The more shortcuts you take, the less you will learn and the less you will grow as a person. Therefore, it is crucial that you do not shortchange yourself.
15. Be kind to yourself
Do you ever put yourself down by calling yourself lazy, ugly, dumb or irresponsible? Would you say those things to your best friend? Show yourself the same kindness you would show your best friend, and learn to become your own best friend. In fact, research has proven that self-compassion is a key component of success.
16. Spend more time thinking about others than yourself
You’ll be happier if you spend less time thinking about yourself. If you’re always focused on how popular you are or why your parents are so strict, you’ll miss out on all of the good things happening in your life. Instead, try to help others and you’ll see how much better you feel.
17. Say no without feeling guilty
The key to leading an effective student life is being aware of your priorities and values. If you are presented with activities or opportunities that do not align with your priorities, you should decline them with confidence.
18. Don’t rely on others for things that are your own responsibility
I used to rely on others to remember things or run errands on my behalf. But I now realise that this was irresponsible behaviour. I should not have been relying on other people for things that I could handle myself.
19. Exercise regularly
If you think you don’t have time to exercise, you’re actually don’t have time not to exercise.
20. Don’t try to remember things; make them impossible to forget
One of the most important traits you can develop when you’re in school is dependability. To become a dependable student, make sure you don’t forget things like submitting homework, bringing a textbook to school, or asking your parents to sign a consent form. Use a diary, sticky note, or app to help you remember.
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