Senior year is ending, so what have I learned? More than I ever imagined.
This year has taught me that the most important person in my life is myself. Before I can take care of others I have to take care of myself. To build good relationships I have to be in a good place myself. We are all the main characters of our lives, and we owe it to ourselves above anything else to be happy and healthy.
I have also learned a lot about relations. You have to get out there and seek friendships, but also be careful not to force them. Forced friendships will usually either end or turn toxic. You have to trust that you will find your type of people, but do expect to put in some work. We win some and we lose some, so be prepared for friendships to fade when you grow and adapt. Trying too hard to keep something as it is can be harmful, so give things space and be there to see if the growth can happen together instead of apart.
If there is something you want, go get it. Sure, you can get guidance and support, but your dreams and goals should be your own. I know we like to depend on peer approval, but it is your life, not your parents’, not your friends’, not your counselors’. Letting others choose our direction may seem easier because then it won’t be wholly our fault if things go bad, but we can’t steer our lives by the opinions of others.
I know independence is scary. Exciting, but scary. Being fully in charge of yourself and your life is for sure very freeing, but it can be pretty lonely and terrifying too. You may love not having to hear your mom yell at you to clean your room, but you may also eventually hate the fact that no one cares about or even sees the big messes you make. It will get better. You may start cleaning your room because you yourself don’t want the mess. This is the best part of independence. You do things for yourself, not for others.
Moving away from home is a very weird emotional ride. You have the world at your feet! You are stuck in one place. You love having your own space! You hate eating every meal alone. You love staying up as late as you wish! You hate sleep deprivation.
Like everything else in life, there are positive and negative aspects. As cliché as it sounds, the negatives are important so that we remember to cherish the positives, and so that we can learn and grow.
I am thankful for these life lessons, and for everything else that I have learned this year.
I am thankful for everyone who has crossed my path, and made this year an amazing one.
Most of all, I am thankful for my parents, who keep supporting me no matter what, who encourage me to follow my dreams, who went against their own wishes to fulfill mine, and whose love I’m always enveloped in. Thank you for giving me the space to spread my wings, with the knowledge that I forever have a safe place to come back to.
Thank you for reading The Clarion, even though it’s in another language. Ej elska dokke.
Selma, thank you for having me. I will be back!
