My Advice to High School Students

It always amazes me when people say "high school years are the best years of your life." What on earth did they do after they graduated? Life is much better as an adult. But here's my words to high school students because we all gotta be one. 

-High school is just the beginning. It's ok if people don't like you, you don't fit in, or you don't even like yourself. Learn as much as you can. Befriend the new people and the outcasts. Let the teachers help you. Ignore the drama. 

-Take the opportunities that arise. Join that art club. Study a foreign language. Do that internship your senior year. Join the orchestra. Work during the summer. Play sports. You can't do it all but pick a few and stick with them. 

-Don't heed the call of the "cool crowd." They will only take you down. The cool crowd isn't interested in following Jesus. They will take you places you don't want to go and you will leave behind important parts of yourself to be accepted by them. It's not worth it. 

-God's will is happening now. It's easy to think that the mysterious will of God only applies once you're an adult. That's not true. God's will is obeying today. Are you obeying what you know the Bible says today? Then you are doing God's will. You don't have to do weird, mystical things to prove you love God. Just obey. 

-Give grace. You will be surrounded by people who either don't believe like you do or don't believe at all. Let your shine shine and keep your judgments to yourself. Of course stand by your convictions and say it with grace when it's needed. Our Pastor always says that immature Christian go around telling other people their convictions; let them see it in your life. 

-Your body? It's a temple, a tool. Your body isn't for showing off and it doesn't define who you are. Use it; don't abuse it, and don't worship it. (Oh, and put some clothes on it while you're at it.)

-Consider your future wisely. You are hurtling toward it at a speed you can't imagine. College, relationships, interests will all come together and make choices for you if you aren't careful. Find a Christian (I recommend your pastor) who loves you and seek counsel.

-Read. Skip the video games and the internet. Grow your mind; don't waste your time. Do your homework while you're at it too. 

-Love your family. They may not be what you wanted; they may not even be good for you. But love them. You don't have to walk their path to accept that God placed you there in their midst. Respect your parents; encourage your siblings. 

-Work. It's not a bad word. Learning how to work and to love work will benefit your life over and over as you get older. You will get jobs and keep them. You will receive excellent recommendations when it's time to move on. You will accomplish things with your life that laziness would deprive you of. 

-Learn as much as you can. You never know when or how you will use it. What seems unnecessary right now may become a turning point in the future. If someone is willing to teach you a skill, learn it. 

I enjoyed high school but you couldn't pay me enough money to go back. The life ahead of you is much better than what you see now. Use where you are for what you will do later.