As there is an endless amount of advice that a person could give to another there are specific ones that have helped me as a person. The advice that has helped me through life is just to get through high school. In elementary school we think of how great high school will be - new people, new school, for us girls, new boys. At that age, I thought of all new possibilities I would have after graduating from eighth grade. While in elementary school I was put into special education (IEP) and there I was taught that I didn't have to do all the work and I could have do-overs. When I graduated and went into high school, I was put in special education again and it ruined my reputation and was way to easy for me. After my first year, I was given the choice to move schools and get taken off the special education plan. Making this decision, made my life so much better in the long run. My parents always used to tell me to get through high school because all the gossip truly stops, it's all about you, and you have the freedom to do what you want.
Firstly, in high school everyone was worried about all the gossip going through schools and in college no one really cares. For example, everybody was worried about all the new "hot" couples walking through school. In addition, in high school there were always cliques and you could never feel like you belonged. Along with that, those of us who fit in with all cliques were seen as misfits or outcasts. Now being in college, I have socialized with many different kinds of people and have created the best friend group that I know I will keep forever. In the article, "Advice For New Students" Tom Diehl from University of Pittsburg says "Throughout high school, I had been relentlessly bullied and criticized for who I was and what I believed in. Eager to prevent my problems from following me to college, I kept my hard exterior, overcompensating for my fear of being rejected. It took me an entire semester realize this was the exact opposite of the approach I should have taken. What I hadn't taken into account was that everyone I would be surrounded by would be in the same boat. Shed your inhibitions and prior conceptions of who people can be. College provides an environment that fosters creativity, friendship, and acceptance. Don't aim to prove those that doubted you wrong, but push yourself to prove yourself wrong." I feel this is eye opening advice to any grade, but especially college because the friends you make in college are the friends you will have the longest relationship with. This advice helped this problem because I learned how to be myself and not care what others think.
Secondly, in high school its about other people while in college its all about you. For example, in college you can pick all the classes you'd be interested in taking whereas in high school you were forced to take the classes that were picked through the state. In high school I tried getting all my general education out of the way so by the end of my high school education I could take all the fun classes my senior year. This advice helped me because I was given an opportunity to explore my interests and really take into account possible career choices. In the article, Sangepu Ashrith says "College life is similar to what happens when you get high - i.e., you have a vague idea of your surroundings and forget who you are and where you wanted to go. Don't make that mistake. It will cost you years." I feel this advice is very helpful because college gives you the chance to take different kinds of classes but if you don't choose the right major you could get yourself stuck and it will be hard to recover from it.
Lastly, unlike high school, college allows you have the freedom to be who you are and explore different opportunities. For example, in high school you always had you're parents behind your back telling you what you can and can't do. In college, you can experience things your parents weren't very fond of while in high school. I had this experience because I always felt like I was on a leash and very naive. Since college, I feel like I have been able to make decisions for myself. In addition, college allows me to make decisions on what I want to spend my time on or my money on. In the article, Claudia Siqueiros says "Having a set agenda for four years of your life does not usually go according to plan. If you find you are not having an exciting college experience, change something. Do not let the pressures or judgement of others keep you in a situation that isn't ideal for you. The change might be challenging at first, but it will be worth it." In addition to the article, the video Jk Rowling spoke in says that life will create hardships and you have get out of you're comfort zone in order to succeed. This advice is great because you can't let others guide you and you are the only one who knows what you want.
Not worrying about gossip, it only being about you, having the freedom to be who you are, is related to the best advice i've been given - just getting through high school.
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