Highschool: The reality

When I was in Yr 7, I had the most stereotypical expectations for high school. I envisioned tons of cute boys, hundreds of house parties, beach sunsets and a close group of best friends that I would have for life. I painted this picture in my head that set my standards so high, nothing would ever come close to meeting them. High school is not like the movies for most people. If you really don't give a f*** about your grades and your main priority is having the 'high school experience' then all the things I wanted will come true. But, if you actually want to graduate school with a high ATAR, then it's pretty hard to have a really amazing, stereotypical social life. But when you are a young, naive girl, you don't realise the amount of bs that comes along with a high school social life. Parties means dancing with your mates and talking to cute boys, but they also mean underage drinking and narcotics. Hundreds of cute boys means hundreds of fckboys who only want to use you. Beach sunsets aren't going to happen unless its summer and you (or one of your friends) have their P's, and a group of close friends that are going to be together forever is absolutely impossible to find.  Listen, we are young and we have to life now before we get old and wrinkly, but you should never do anything you aren't comfortable with, just because you want the "high school experience.", In saying all that you need to find a social life and school work balance. You should not be partying 24/7 but you shouldn't be studying 24/7 either. If you find a balance and surround yourself with good people, your high school experience will be a good one. Just cherish every moment you have during high school, because before you know it you'll be walking across the stage to accept your graduation certificate.