Editorial: Don’t Wish Your Years Away
Photo by Staton-Todaro.
Dear Reader,
I have always been taught that honesty is the best policy, so let me start this article by being honest. Quarantine and Covid have sucked. I don’t think I can say it any more pleasantly than that. I turned 16 during the first surge, I got my learner’s permit during the summer months when Covid was low, I got my driver’s license during the second surge, and now in two weeks, I will turn 17. To say the least, some of the significant milestones of being a teenager have occurred for me during a pandemic.
When I turned 16 years old, my “sweet sixteen” wasn’t all too bad. It was amazing for what it was and the current situation. After my sixteenth birthday, I did have this crisis of sorts, realizing that I was only two years away from being an adult. I was closer to college than my first day of sixth grade, and I realized a key thing that I regret.
I was always the child who wanted to grow up. I was so eager to become independent and to be on my own. I loved the idea of being in college, having responsibilities, etc. But Covid and my 16th birthday made me realize that I regret having wished all those years away. Let's be honest, I don’t know if anyone wants to relive middle school necessarily, and don’t worry, I’m not an advocate for doing such a thing, but deep down, there is this part of me that wishes I wasn’t so close to adulthood.
The second moment when I realized my regret was (at) the start of my junior year. It is perceived in America that your junior year is your most important year of high school, and all of freshman and sophomore year, I couldn’t wait for IB to start. Though the second the assignments, extra work, and CAS hours hit, I again realized that my unruly dream of more independence and challenge had brought me to a point where I could never enjoy what I was experiencing at the time. When a classmate of mine said recently that we were only 18 months away from college, past Harper would have been astatic, particularly jumping out of her chair. However, in that moment, I realized that I was so close to what I had always wanted, dreamed of, but I wasn’t ready for it.
If I could give anyone younger than me any piece of advice, it would be: Don’t Wish Your Years Away. I can’t say this enough. At times, you just want things to change or hate the present situation, trust me, I’ve been there. Though things change, and you’ll end up where you need to be. Don’t worry about college in 7th grade, don’t stress over a C- on a quiz freshman year because you think it will ruin your chance of admission, and don’t ever wish you were older. I regret not enjoying the time I’ve had as a teenager. Having Covid take so many of the important milestones anyway has made me realize that nothing is guaranteed and that living in the moment is the best way to live. So please listen to me, enjoy being your age. Enjoy the lack of responsibilities and homework. Enjoy the freedom to fail and learn. You only get one chance to make your life amazing, and wishing you were older isn’t the way to do it.
Best,
An almost 17-year-old
