Tara Martin | Web Editor-in-Chief

So my time has come. As the end of winter break rolls around, I will have to face the inevitable; I am about to become a freshman all over again. While most of my peers pack their bookbags for another semester at AHS, I will once again show up unprepared. This time, however, I’ll be showing up unprepared to college. But that’s the life of a mid-year graduate. From me to you, in the midst of the school year, here are seven high school lessons from seven high school semesters.

1. Bleed black and gold. It wasn’t until my senior year did I show any hint of school spirit. Maybe I thought I was above it or just didn’t want to put the effort in, whatever the reason, the sidelines are so much more fun when you have someone to root for.
2. Get involved. Very early into my freshman year, Mr. Noble told my SRT class that high school would be a lot less miserable if we found something to involve ourselves in. I very clearly remember thinking, “What a load of crap.” But I didn’t think crap. Turns out, Mr. Noble hit the nail on the head with that one.
3. Do your homework, to an extent. I wish somebody had told freshman me that forgetting one assignment wouldn’t be the end of the world. On the converse, somebody should probably tell present me to get it together because the line has been crossed.
4. Get to know the person you sit next to. There is nothing, and I mean nothing, in this world that is more embarrassing than having to look at the person you have been sitting beside for three months and ask them, “Hey, can I borrow a pencil? Also, what’s your name?”
5. Ladies, don’t be afraid to cut your bangs. I know how this goes. It’s 3 a.m., something absolutely horrific has transpired and pushed us past our breaking point. We think what we need to remedy the situation is bangs. Spoiler alert: it’s not, but you have to figure that out for yourself. Cut your bangs, rid yourself of those dead ends, but hold off on the hair dye.
6. Get your driver’s license. Just do it. I understand that owning a car is not financially feasible for every high school student, but the test is really not that bad. Get your driver’s license, if only for the future or just in case.
7. Enjoy it while you can. No one is expected to love every minute of high school. That would be outrageous and, frankly, uncalled for. However, these moments we spend in the classes that we can’t get enough of will one day end. The final bell will ring and we won’t look back. So when you’re there, soak it all in.