To My High School Self

You never expect to grow up so quickly. One day, you’re doing your homework in the shelter of your room or dreaming about crushes and starting relationships for the first time, and the next thing you know, you’re knee-deep in the eight-to-five life and adult responsibilities are breaking your back every day.

And when all of this happens, you forget to look back at your life and figure out all the lessons that you’ve learnt. For some people it only happens when they’re 40 years old or even older.

For others, it happens sooner, because life delivers harder blows and you can’t help but reflect on happier days. Since I like things and talking about what was, there are a few things I would love to tell my 16-year-old self.

High school is a bubble of what’s truly happening out there. And the world is scary. You’re going to be in confrontations with strangers.

Your eye-rolling moments are going to be plenty. Men, boys, the lot will annoy you every single time you get into a cab. Because people want to get to know you.

They want your number. They want to know you and some want to overstep boundaries. Even when you’re at an event, casually relaxing at a lounge or walking up the street to the cuca shop near your place, you’re going to be overwhelmed by people, situations, etc.

You’ll deal. But it’s only a foundation of the worst that’s yet to come.

Your confidence is going to skyrocket faster than Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty sales. Get with the programme. Don’t question it, just embrace it. It’s not like you can change it anyway.

But with this, you’re going to attract a lot of unwanted attention. And end up in situations that are uhm, meant for movies. Like who ever thought? But you’ll know what to do when you’re stuck. Trust your gut, gyal. Trust the gut. Or well, the third eye. Whatever instincts are in your language. Just trust ’em.

Never harbour negative emotions. This is probably going to be one of the biggest mistakes you’ll ever make. For the introvert, you’re terrible at letting people know how you feel.

And that’s where you messed everything up, because there are consequences for your actions. Really bad ones. At some point, it’s going to hurt a lot, but like I said, you’ve pretty much got disappointment down. You know how to handle it.

The problem is that this entire situation could have been avoided if you just manned up a little and said what you needed to say. There were plenty of opportunities to do so. Your pride is partly to blame, so tone it down and just speak up for what you believe in and what you want.

Otherwise, your heart will just rot from the inside and you’ll find it difficult to let anyone in.

Potentials come and go. You’re suddenly attractive to people and it’s going to freak you out, because sometimes you hate being the centre of attention.

But as you learn how to deal with this and your confidence, you have to know what you want, otherwise it will lead to possibly making some questionable decisions.

Not that you make many mistakes, but talk to the people around you, especially when there’s a big issue going on. The thing about you is that you hardly talk about yourself – but sometimes, you need to reach out and ask for help. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice.

Oh, and uh, stay in school. It’ll change your life.

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