If I could talk to my freshman year self, I would tell her to calm down.

I remember starting high school with bright, boundless expectations and a do-or-die plan for the four years ahead.  I knew what classes I would take, what clubs I’d join, what kind of person I’d become.

Unfortunately for yourself, most of these plans did not come to fruition, but despite this, I feel appreciative of how my years in high school have panned out.

What I didn’t realize then was that many of my pivotal experiences would stem from the occasions I couldn’t plan for. I met some of my best friends in my freshman year Spanish class where I didn’t expect to meet anyone. My first academic “failure”, getting a D on an AP European History quiz, helped me learn how to accept and grow from experiences that do not go the way you expect. Each novel experience in high school, no matter how small, has slowly shaped me into the person I am today.

To my freshman year self, I would tell her that it’s okay to change paths, to make mistakes, and to not have it all figured out. Through these four years, I’ve realized that high school is less about following a path and more about learning how to go through it without a plan. I’ve learned to react to unexpected happenings not with fear, but with an expectation of learning something new.

I didn’t cross everything off my freshman “to do list”, but my high school years gave me more than I expected: resilience, unexpected joy, and a better understanding of who I am. If I could reach back and speak to that anxious, eager freshman version of me, I’d say this: trust the process. It won’t be perfect, but it will be worth it.

Let go of the idea that success is linear or that happiness only comes when everything goes according to plan.

High school, like life, is unpredictable. But it is also full of meaning if you’re willing to see it.