As I prepare to walk down that aisle and receive my high school diploma in SIX DAYS, it's only natural that I lay in bed each night and think of all that the past four years have brought...and all that is to come.
People say, "I don't know where the time went!"
Mamas cry, Daddies beam, students smile.
As for me, I know exactly where my time has gone. It went to hours at the Arts Center as I continually attempt to perfect my craft. It went to hours poured over books and flashcards in front of the computer's glow. It went to hours spent at coffee shops...meeting new friends, encouraging young hearts, learning from older hearts, and laughing with dear brothers and sisters. It went to hours by the piano in voice lessons. It was spent in mornings and afternoons and nights of prayer and Scripture reading. It went to hours of worshipping and learning in the pews of Southeast Christian Church. It went to shows and goofy spend-the-nights and concerts and dances and long runs and basketball games. It went to late-night talks with Mom and Dad, as well as fits of both laughter and tears on my bedroom floor.
Yet, as I prepare to leave the things that bind my past eighteen years together, I feel a little broken. I have fallen in love with this season. Why is everything so much sweeter when it must be placed aside for the purpose of new? For this, I cry and laugh and rejoice.
Wherever you are...whether about to enter high school, in high school, the parent of a high schooler, or a non-affiliate of the high school era, I somewhat feel that it is part of my duty as a senior and daughter of Jesus to pass on the unspoken lessons I learned during this time. They are a beautiful and brutal four years of chaos and glory...and somehow, I both love and hate them with all my might.
Without further delay...
Lesson One: Accountability is everything.
Difficulties are a little lighter and life is brighter with the power of someone else's word in and knowledge of your struggles.
Lesson Two: School dances are just as fun with friends of the same sex as they are with a date (if not more fun).
Seriously, girlfriends are comfy and obnoxious and goofy and so very precious.
Lesson Three: Always, always, ALWAYS listen to your Mama.
Kills me a little to say this, but she's always right.
Trust me.
Really, she is.
Lesson Four: Being involved in everything doesn't make you successful.
I cannot tell you how many times "being involved in everything" gave me nothing but trouble and anxiety. Choosing your passions wisely gives you the freedom to invest in AND reap from hard work.
Lesson Five: Ending something does not make you a quitter.
Within good reason and with the guidance of a mentor, ending a relationship or activity does not, under any circumstances, make you a quitter. In fact, it can make you a real winner and grant you a whole new level of freedom.
Lesson Six: Morning Bible time is the most precious Bible time of all.
Before turning on the phone or speaking a single word, opening HIS Word sets the tone for the entire day ahead.
Lesson Seven: Guy friends are some of the best friends.
Some of my dearest friends are males. Honest, loyal, protective, and kind, they open my eyes to so many things I could never have understood without them. I love them dearly.
Lesson Eight: You don't have to attend every argument you're invited to.
Don't throw your pearls to swine. Save your breath and live out your convictions...words are optional.
Lesson Nine: Love on the kid that's sitting alone.
High school is seriously rough. You never know how a conversation, nonetheless a smile, will affect someone's day. Love big.
Lesson Ten: Take a million pictures.
I don't care if they're a screenshot, selfie, or something fancy, pictures are beautiful. Honestly, I scroll through my photo stream daily-- thanking Jesus for the beauty He has placed in my life. Because of these pictures, I will never forget the fun, friends, and food high school brought me.
Lesson Eleven: Get a job as early as possible, and understand how to manage your money.
The responsibility of a job has taught me respect, punctuality, organization, time-management, public relations, dignity, and poise, and I only wish I had gotten one sooner than junior year. Once you begin to earn your own money, you value expenses through a totally different set of lenses.
Lesson Twelve: Keep old voicemails.
You never know when you'll need a laugh. Or the reminder that someone loves you. Or just a simple memory from the past. I love listening to the voices of those I love, even if it's regarding something silly like a reminder to get hamburger buns from the grocery.
Lesson Thirteen: Keep a journal.
I know journaling isn't for everyone, but even just one word a day is enough to spark a million memories. I love seeing the visible hand of God upon my life as I flip pages from days past.
Lesson Fourteen: Dual credit is THE BOMB.
Seriously, if you have the chance to earn college credit while in high school, TAKE IT. Because I took the leap, I will be entering college as a sophomore. And THAT, my friends, is thousands of dollars and many hours saved.
Lesson Fifteen: Make quality decisions ahead of time.
This motto, so frequently sung by my Aunt Ren, rings throughout my head during times of difficult choices. Create your standards in advance of decision-making so that, when the time for a choice comes, all you need to say is "yes" or "no" (and pray for self-control).
Lesson Sixteen: Dating isn't designed for high schoolers. And purity books aren't always the best counselors.
I could write a whole book on this topic, but simply put, you won't get married in high school. And purity books aren't always your best friends, even though they establish some beautiful ideas and help one set standards. Again, accountability is everything. Establishing authentic relationships with guys is precious and awesome and being free in singleness is SO RAD. Studying God's Word on the topic of purity and relationships and marriage is so fulfilling. Learn who you are without the responsibilities of being tied to another individual at such a young age. NOW is the time to discover the TYPE of man you'd like to marry, not necessarily the young man himself. If Jesus brings him to you during this time, AWESOME! If not, I promise you will live.
Lesson Seventeen: Netflix is great, but so are books.
A marked-up, dog-eared book is so much more precious to me than hours spent laughing at "Friends."
(But I do love some good ole Ross and Rachel drama.)
Lesson Eighteen: Cherish every meal with your family.
Spilled milk and pointless laughter is so much greater with those who share your blood than in a dorm room.
Lesson Nineteen: Take the ACT/SAT seriously.
These tests have so much say in college scholarship, as much as I hate to say that. All you can do is buckle down, get a tutor, and take the tests as many times as you can. Push yourself! I promise you will be so grateful when you get that scholarship letter in the mail because of that hard-earned score.
Lesson Twenty: Challenge yourself to craziness.
Go on a missions trip. Run that marathon. Eat that krispy kreme donut burger. Ride that roller coaster. Sing along at that concert. Reach out to that new kid. Take lessons. Fear has held me back from so many neat things, and I have slowly learned to smile and say "yes" to new opportunities that scare the living daylights out of me. Like I said, NOW is the time!
Lesson Twenty One: You don't have to listen to everyone's opinion.
Learn to listen to your own instincts. When you're living in the Word of God, His heart melts into yours. Trust the Holy Spirit's guidance, and compare every word against those of Him.
Lesson Twenty Two: Celebrate the little victories.
Everyone has their own set of struggles. No victory is a little one. A step in the right direction sets a precedence for the decisions ahead.
Lesson Twenty Three: Coffee is your best friend!!!
If you didn't love coffee before high school, by senior year, you'll be a caffeine monster. Promise.
Lesson Twenty Four: Don't ever say something behind someone's back that you wouldn't say to their face.
A humbling lesson to learn. Speak kindly, and others will respect you. Plus, it's the Jesus thing to do.
Lesson Twenty Five: Let go of the things that aren't made for you.
Sometimes things feel right even if they're not. Trust God's sovereignty as He removes things from your life. This is a lesson humanity learns all throughout the journey of life.
I could not be more thrilled to throw that cap on May 15th, 2015. Summer and Alabama promise light and fresh, and I am so ready.
High school, thank you.
Jesus, thank you.
Lydia Grace Johnson is ready for the next.
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