Times change. I was once a 14-year-old soldier, battle-hardened by the war-torn hallways of middle school and ready for the new front called high school.

Now, as my graduation approaches, my guard is down. It turns out high school can be a neutral zone, lulling you into a false sense of security. High school comes at you fast. If you don’t pay attention, you could miss it.

Below is a list of lessons I’ve been lucky enough to catch since I entered the doors of Northwest…

• Ignoring an ignorant comment is just as bad as saying one.
• Reading teaches maturity. If you hate to read, you probably still have growing up to do.
• As much as you want to tell off the popular and stuck-up people, you shouldn’t. They most likely have it worse than you.
• There’s always somebody better than you.
• It’s OK to be sad when you leave your friends in high school, but keep in mind, they aren’t the only people you’ll ever meet.
• Confidence can say a lot about a person. Don’t second guess yourself, but be wary self-confidence it could come off as cockiness.
• School dances are just a formal excuse to hump a girl (in public) for two hours without any legal consequences.
• Petroleum jelly is the wrong kind for a sandwich.
• There is most undoubtedly a connection between sobriety and your wellness of mind and body.
• Never listen to rumors, especially when it involves somebody getting hit by a car.
• In high school, you’re given chances to change your life every day. It’s up to you to distinguish what’s right from wrong.
• It’s perfectly acceptable to be an 18-year-old virgin.
• Jazz is the perfect music to drown your teenage angst in.
• What people think of you does matter, somewhat. It’s an evaluation of how you’re perceived in the world. Just remember that those people aren’t there when you go to sleep at night.
• Why care about what people say you can and can’t do? They don’t control your future.
• The people who say you find yourself in high school are just the ones who lost themselves after they graduated.
• The people you want to try to impress are only trying to impress themselves.
• Facebook stalking is always appropriate.

When I recall the last four years of my life, I begin to realize that high school doesn’t always define a person. Unless I’m still the same as when I walked in these doors; I’m just more open to new experiences, rather than always wanting to fight against them. I still haven’t found myself entirely. It’s not that I’ve completely changed as a person; I’ve just been building on who I once was.