My Attitude Change

on social media, in school or at social events, it is difficult to not want to have it all. Have you ever seen people on social media who just look like they have it all together? They get up in the morning, work out, have a perfect breakfast, get all their homework done, always have time to party and look good while they are doing it. Have you seen that person before? If you said yes, let me tell you, they don’t exist.

I remember one time during my junior year when a school friend of mine told me that I look like I always have it all together. I laughed, knowing that was far from the truth. Even people who look like they have it together at school, don’t. There is not a single person out there who does. Consequently, do not feel less than your peers because you don’t look like you have it all together. It is okay to not get all of your assignment done the night it was assigned; it is okay to take a break from school work; it is okay to prioritize sleep over studying all night. It took me until the end of my junior year to realize that, but it is worth it to just relax and do your best.

Last but not least is the far most important thing I’ve learned over the years I’ve been at STA, and that is that it is okay to do your own thing. It is okay to want alone time, to skip lunch to do homework, and find hobbies to do alone. Solitary time to recharge is by far the best thing I’ve learned at STA. For me, it started with going to tutor rooms during lunch. When I figured out I could get all of my homework done for the day during one lunch period, I began to spend more time alone during lunch and my free periods. My stress began to lower, and I felt less of a sensory overload during the day.

Then, this newfound sense of independence carried over to my personal life. I found a hobby of reading and learned that spending time alone accept them, but when you try, you allow yourself to grow and adapt. My first year of high school, I wasn’t patient, and I thought the rest of my high school experience would feel this way. Every stage of high school teaches you a lesson, whether that’s a harder time, or if it’s the best time of your life. Over the years, you will find your people, and if not your people, you will find people who feel the exact same way you have.

During my four years, I’ve made many friends. Whether it be my closest friends, or people I talk to consistently during our shared classes, I find so much value in every one of these friendships because they’re something my freshman year self would have doubted I would have ever had. By trusting the process, I would’ve saved myself from so much fear and selfdoubt. I consider my friendships to be the most important thing I will carry out of the halls of STA. I plan to carry these lessons with me to college, and while difficult, I will try to remain patient through it all. B and reading helped me shift my focus from the stresses of school. Soon after, I realized that I didn’t need to go to every social event possible. Not to say that putting yourself out is bad; I fully believe that pushing yourself outside your comfort zone can be productive. However, for me, having self-care nights and focusing on myself has been the best possible thing for my mental health, even if people may see you like you “don’t go out much.” Now, I have a job I enjoy, a hobby I love and have found good friends. With that said, spending time to focus on me, not striving for perfection, and finding what I truly value have been my most valuable lessons, and my attitude change has changed me for the better. B

In this column, I reflect on the most valuable lessons I’ve learned throughout my time at St. Teresa’s.