Being that this week is start of the school year for Hawaii public schools, I wanted to make an "Advice for High School Seniors!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrPC4jOP05U
Basically my advice for high school seniors is to cherish the moment, participate in some of the events, AND to recognize that you don't have to like everyone on campus to enjoy campus events and activities!
The reason I wanted to emphasize the "you don't have to like everyone on campus to enjoy campus events and activities" message is because
1) you can't let others stop you from having an enjoyable senior year, or an enjoyable life in general
2) if you think high school is rough, wait until you get into the real world. You can't expect to like everyone in your college or in your future jobs. While you will be annoyed (and more), you can't let that stop you from enjoying things
3) I actually knew classmates who didn't want to attend school events because they said "I don't like everyone on campus" SO WHAT? If you have at least 1 friend, enjoy the times hanging with that 1 friend and talk about some fun stuff!
4) I also knew classmates who spent the whole time at one campus event complaining about the people he don't like. Look, if you're someone that you do get along with, then spent that time talking about something enjoyable!
(too much time talking about problems erases the time you could spend enjoying the moment)
In case you think I'm some kind of "positivity polyanna", let it be known that during my high school years, there was drama at home, annoying classmates, grew body hairs early in life, was racially different from overwhelming majority of my classmates, had speech impediments, was nonathletic, didn't have a large clique, and much, much more! But SO WHAT?
I enjoyed spending time in classes that I liked, learned many cool things, had great lunch recesses (especially Junior year @ Shop Building), made interesting comments in class, yelled at pep rallies, enjoyed school events, and I did the unexpected!
The biggest unexpected of my senior year? Singing at the talent show!
Nobody saw that coming, not even my closest friends.
I sang Usher's song "Nice & Slow" a capella at the Senior Luau, and Nate Dogg's "Never Leave Me Alone" at the schoolwide talent show!
I became a school celebrity! :)
I did not let all the negatives in my life stop me from taking initiative and doing the unexpected!
I did not let all the negatives in my life stop me from taking initiative and sing at the talent show!
I did not let all the negatives in my life stop me from making noises at pep rallies!
I did not let all the negatives in my life stop me from enjoying times in my fun classes!
and most importantly
I did not let all the negatives in my life stop me from enjoying Project Graduation (the after-graduation party) and ending my high school career with a bang!
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For me, it's 15 years later and I am setting up the reunion. Even then, I'm not letting the negatives in my life stop me!
I could be an "emo" and be like "I'm too busy balancing work and school", "not everyone likes me", "I'm not wealthy" or all this other nonsense!
Screw that, I'm taking initiative and setting up the reunion (August 16, 2014 @ Jade Dynasty --- arrive at 5:30 with $30 in cash) and whether 10 or 100 show up, I'm going to live it up and enjoy!
Enjoy high school while you still can! Once it's gone, it's gone forever!
Enjoy your senior year!
