Pearls of Wisdom from Students’ Oysters
Helpful insights for high school students

BY MARY ANN WILLIS, College Counselor - Bayside Academy, AL

Rather than dictating from my ancient age and perspective, each year I ask my graduating seniors to share insights they feel might be helpful to their left-behind, not yet graduated schoolmates. Students and parents have found these student nuggets useful and reassuring. Quite unremarkably, the recommendations change very little from year to year.

Surmising that jewels of discernment from the front line are far more powerful than tidbits of insight from me, I offer the following advice penned by the graduating class to high school freshmen and the rising seniors. Senior thoughts regarding “if I could go through high school again, I would...” add gold to the mix.

Advice to freshmen:

• Carry a smile in your pocket.
• Don’t worry about being popular: it’s overrated.
• Try hard – it counts NOW!
• Work with your teachers.
• Get involved with school activities and don’t be afraid to make new friends.
• Relax a little. Don’t take everything so seriously.
• Remember to have fun and enjoy every day.
• Four years isn’t as long as you think. Freshman year sets the stage for senior year.
• No teacher is as hard as they are reported to be.
• It will all depend on your outlook and attitude.
• Work hard because it will pay off.

Advice to the rising seniors:

• Follow your heart.
• Don’t let others pressure you.
• Learn about what YOU want–take that with you.
• Keep an open mind.
• Don’t underestimate yourself, but don’t lie to yourself.
• Don’t settle for the easy route.
• Don’t procrastinate.
• Keep your options open.
• Make choices wisely.
• Don’t limit yourself.

If I could go through high school again, I would:

• Work harder and study more.
• Be more open to my classmates.
• Have laughed a little more my first and second years.
• Have tried harder my first two years.
• Have not gotten into the habit of slacking off.
• Have been more involved and gone to more school events.
• Have started more organizations that I would like to see on campus.
• Have been more academically focused.

Students have a greater understanding of the possibilities of education, in and out of the classroom, than most people give them credit for. On the very last school day, as we practice for graduation, I read seniors their own pearls. I ask them as they begin college to apply to themselves what they’ve recommended for their schoolmates. I want them to realize that they already have the tools for success. They simply need to use them. High school produces a lot of grit. The resulting irritation isn’t without good results.