Reflection: Senior Year

Another year of high school means another set of lessons. Hopefully these help!

🪞 Social/Personal

(1) Reach out to people.

I found someone on the Class of 2027 Instagram that seemed cool, and with a bit of persuading from my friends, I reached out to her. I’m glad I did because we have a lot in common, and it’s fun talking to her.

Every attempt to connect won’t lead to a partner or best friend, but you certainly won’t find one if you don’t try. Plus, life’s too short to care (I initiated our first conversation with a deez nuts joke). A moment’s worth of embarrassment will be just that.

Or it’ll blossom into a beautiful tulip.

(2) Don’t choose the homework.

At a wildlife coexistence conference, I had the choice of catching up on homework or going on a hike with some bird experts. I chose the homework. Two of my friends chose the hike and saw a beautiful sunset and amazing birds while talking to people from all around the world.

Don’t be lame. Don’t choose the homework.

(3) Life is messy.

The older you get, the more responsibilities you have and the more chaotic your life becomes. Learn to be okay with a messy life, but make it yours.

📝 School

(1) Confidence is key.

Confidence is one of the hardest things to gain. No one’s born with it, and there’s no straightforward path to getting it. However, when given the option to doubt yourself, choose otherwise. It’ll pave the way for dreams you thought were unattainable.

(2) Getting into ____ isn’t the end.

As a result of traditionalist Asian parents and idyllic media, I thought getting into selective colleges would somehow solve all of my problems. But it didn’t. Problem sets will still be hard, relationships will still require constant effort, and the future will still be as uncertain as ever.

The Lacanian perspective of never being able to satisfy your desires really holds true in this case. Have fun your senior year. Enjoy life. Smile.

College isn’t the end all be all.