Among the brightly colored folders, gooey gel pens, and a fancy, but not too fancy backpack, lay a scribbled list of suggestions for my third and last child as she begins her years of high school.
I want her to know these upcoming years are for learning about herself, discovering what she likes, what her skills and interests are, and for learning in what direction she thinks she may go. My hope is for the high school years to be enlightening and purposeful, but more importantly, I hope they create, for the most part, a positive memory full of learning, laughter, and fun.
So, to my teenage daughter, here are 4 pieces of advice as you begin High School.
1. Smile.
Be conscience of this all the time. Without a soft smile, we all look unapproachable. As you walk into school and down the halls, look others in the eye and smile. Be approachable.
2. Be kind.
High school is the arena of cliques, and can be really scary. You will find your people. You will naturally gravitate to girls who are just like you, with interests, ideas, goals, and dreams similar to yours. You don’t have to be friends with every group, but do be kind to everyone. Be kind to classmates outside of your group.
