Things I Regret Not Doing in High School

High school was a period for expression and independence. Some people claimed that their time in high school was when they had the most fun as students. There is also a saying that states, “You’ll only regret the things you didn’t do and the things you never said.” I’m here to tell you that this saying is typically true during my high school days. Looking back, there are numerous things I regret not doing in high school.

Things I regret not doing in high school

Enjoying my adolescent

I kept my room door closed and avoided making new friends. Most of my high school friends are people that reached out to me, not people I reached out to. Some of them were my elementary school friends. Likewise, I had no friends from other classes, and I had little opportunity to interact with my upperclassmen. Due to my intense commitment to my studies, I was not able to do as many things as a typical teenager does.

Additionally, I was so preoccupied with my studies, I didn’t even have a crush during high school. Likewise, I often work on student council projects or get ready for interschool competitions when I’m not studying.

I am aware that teenagers vary tremendously. However, I should have practiced my social skills and got out more. I’m just an introverted grownup right now, just starting to collect memories and experiences.

Get out of my comfort zone

Since I’m just focusing on my studies, I didn’t get the chance to try new things. I didn’t get the chance to try different hobbies, try different interests, and more. If I’m not studying at home in my free time, I’m at school fulfilling some of my duties as a member of the student council.

Because of these, I didn’t get the chance to discover the things that I want to do. I didn’t get the chance to try different other things. Hence, I just got to know now in college what I want to do in my future career. As a result, I am behind my classmates who already harnessing their skills and developing their knowledge of the things they want to do in the future. 

Aside from not having time to try different things, I was so scared of going out of my comfort. I fear failure and uncertainty, and the unknown take over my mind. Thus, I didn’t get the chance to develop any of my skills and try other things.

Developing hobbies

Along with not attempting anything new, I also didn’t have the opportunity to pursue any interests. Although I am aware that watching movies and television shows is already a pleasure of mine, I wish I had the possibility to develop other new habits. More physically or something that would get me out without using my phone.  

For instance, I never had the opportunity to become familiar with playing sports or engaging in other forms of physical activity. Now, especially during the pandemic, it is quite difficult for me to motivate myself to exercise. Given that they are so necessary, building hobbies would be an incredible challenge.

Not giving myself a break

I also regret forcing myself to stay awake all night when I hadn’t had a good night’s sleep in days. Moreover, when I didn’t receive a specific exam mark, I immediately regret telling myself that I failed. I would be kind to myself if I could go back in time. I would give myself permission to take a break, a nap, and some time off from the pressure I put on myself to succeed in high school. During that time, I should have better managed my time and drawn a line between my personal life and my student life.

In high school, I wish I could have loved and cared for myself a little more. During such moments, I could have prioritized myself more selfishly. It’s never a good idea to think negatively about yourself, and I regret doing that.

Not asking for help

When I am struggling, I should have spoken out to others. Asking your teachers for further help or your friends for moral support is nothing to be ashamed of. There are those who will go out of their way to help you, and I wish I had taken advantage of their help. I was instead concerned that I would bother them or that they might choose not to help me at all.

Since it requires admitting that you need help, asking for it might be one of the most difficult things to do. You’re showing that you can’t accomplish everything by yourself, and that can make you feel terrible. But I now regret believing I need to bear everything by myself without seeking assistance.

If I could go back in time, I would tell the high school version of myself not to stress out so much about my studies. Instead of putting other people’s expectations before my own happiness, I wish I could have been liberated.

It seems foolish to look back on something I haven’t thought about in a while. Yet there’s a tiny voice in the back of my head that regrets some of the things I did. While I am delighted to be in college, there are a few things I can’t do here that I should have done in high school.