I say this out of love and a shared experience so 🐻 with me:

1. Start taking school immensely seriously. Literally live to get all your homework and assignments done on time and done well.

2. Start really focusing on future goals and plans. Short mindedness will turn into long term depression and stagnation.

3. Start going to your college counselor at school and trying to figure out what you’re good at plus what makes money.

4. Stop worrying about dating. The idea of finding a highschool sweetheart is basically almost fantasy. Statistically speaking, you will not talk to, remember the names of, or miss the majority of people you spent time with in high school.

5. College is a great place to make connections and start over. Look to college as something to strive towards. I cannot stress this enough: pick a major that makes money or has a very flexible way to fit into different jobs.

About me: I got my bachelors in veterinary science and worked with animals in research, and once I had experience, I could start applying to jobs that made more money using the skills I gained from research. I am bisexual and grew up in a baptist church and am gay married for 4 years. No one in my family knows. They think I live with a roommate who works with me. It’s not worth diving into a depressive attitude over things you can’t control; your goal should be to make your life better in spite of those things you can’t control.