As high school students, we’re expected to grow up a lot in four short years. We hold our future in our hands, with our grades, test scores, and classes.  As a sophomore, I have a little bit of time before college smacks me in the face. However, I’m already feeling the pressure of using high school to my best advantage for my future.

I’ve always wanted to be some kind of writer when I grow up. (I also wanted to be a princess, but that’s another story for another time.) Now I’m the youngest editor ever of our school newspaper and work for a popular teen newspaper called The Mash. I go to Chicago once a month for staff meetings for what’s basically the Chicago Tribune’s high school internship program, and I write articles as much as I can. Translation: I’m basically typing away on the computer A LOT. I also am a receptionist for Persona Grata hair salon in Shorewood. This has obviously taken a toll on my social life. I had to quit the cheerleading team because it would constantly be interfering with my work schedules. I do miss the friendships I made on that team and the excitement of competitions and such, but in the end, being a cheerleader won’t pay for college. I try to be involved in clubs as much as I can, but I’ve definitely had to give up a lot of common high school activities to have time for work, homework, chores, and that lovely thing called sleep.

High school is, at first, a scary experience. Luckily I had an older brother to warn me about some pranks upperclassmen like to play on the freshmen (There is not a pool on the fifth floor, freshies!), but he couldn’t protect me from everything. Finding new classes are difficult, getting through the T&I bridge is like trying to walk through a mosh pit, and I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve tripped up or down the stairs. But high school is actually really fun if you have a positive attitude. Your classes probably won’t be a bundle of joy, but you know what I mean.

We’re all growing older, making mistakes, and learning from them. We’re not the same person we were when we were five years old. And while we’re focusing on the future, it’s okay to hold onto the past. Although I may no longer fit in the clothes I used to wear, I still have my Barbie dolls!