5 Things I Wish I Knew My Freshman Year of High School

1. Your grades are actually important 

Freshman year is cool because you're not in junior high anymore, but freshman year is when everything starts to matter. Especially your grades. This is the year that a transcript is introduced, which is a scary thing. That's the little piece of paper that colleges and scholarship boards will be reviewing all during your senior year. So basically, don't slack off too much because you think that they "don't matter".

2. Make sure to have fun 

There will be a time in your high school career when you don't have that much time to have fun or to go out and do things. Junior and Senior year will hit you in the face with responsibility, so make sure to enjoy freshman year. Try new things. Talk to new people! Worry about grades, but not so much That you're up at 1am crying over them. Yes, your grades are important. but they don't control you.  

3. Eat that cookie

You're a freshman. There's no reason to count calories. Enjoy high school, because one day you'll be near the end with regrets and the constant thoughts of everything you didn't do.

4. Your counselor is your bff

I really really wish I knew this freshman year. The counselors are hired to help you, I promise. Find their email, memorize that, and don't be afraid to use it in order to ask them questions. They've probably heard your question before and probably have plenty of answers. My counselor is probably one of the biggest blessings. I ask her plenty of questions, and she usually emails me back within a few hours. However, if you aren't that lucky, don't be afraid to go into their office and ask whatever you need to in person. They're especially helpful when applying for colleges and registering for the many tests you're going to have to take before you can graduate or begin the application process.

5. It's okay to seek help

This kind of goes hand and hand with the counselor thing, but it's also sort of different. I understand that you're probably going to struggle with something emotionally. There is no shame in asking for a friend, or professional to help you get through those. Entering high school is a big change, and some people are better at it than others. Don't worry, you probably aren't alone in the way you feel. People also seem to drift away or get closer to others during this year too because of the way that everyone's classes or lunches line up. That's alright. If anything is hard for you, don't be afraid to ask someone to help you work through it. Your feelings and emotions are so valid.


Anyways, this is just a glimpse of what I wish I had known. High school is a place where everyone will grow and change in ways imaginable. Getting through freshman year is just the start of it, but it is doable.

Have a great day :)

Emma Jane

Princess Love

Today I got advice from a man who's significantly older than me, but still young at heart. He was telling us the story of how he had first gotten with his late wife when they were teens. The story consisted of her coming out for the date, him telling her that she had ten minutes to take off all of her makeup, and then them going out to a pool party and dancing on top of the high dive diving board. It was probably the sweetest story that I've heard in awhile. However, he told me that when I meet the right person for me, I'll just know. He also said "when you find a guy that makes you feel like a princess, nab him". Little did he know, that I've had a guy who made me feel like a princess. It didn't work out at all, but that's okay.

Right now, I'm searching for something stronger than a princess. I think I've known that I'm a princess for quite a while now, so I feel like one on the daily. In my humble opinion, I think I'm searching for someone who makes me feel wanted, valued, and loved. It's so important to know your worth to someone, without having to constantly tell yourself that you are, in fact, important to that person. Man, the constant reminder to yourself gets EXHAUSTING. The sad part about it is that we, as girls, settle for whatever we can get. "Oh, he's gotta care about me because he called me pretty the other day" Or "Oh, he bought me a meal, so that obviously means he cares." These are all real things I've had to tell myself when being around a guy.

You know what Christ says about that? Ha. Well, he says in Proverbs 4:23 to "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Having to convince yourself that another human cares about you is definitely not a way to guard that thing. Also, in one of my favorite verses, he says in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 a little something about love, which doesn't consist of constant personal reassurance. He says "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking,  it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preserves."

At the end of the day, being called and feeling like a princess is nice, but it's even better to feel loved. It's going to be great to be with someone who is patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, and not proud. I want someone who does not dishonor others, is not self seeking, is not easily angered, and doesn't hold a grudge against me because I mess up all the time . I want someone who protects, trusts, and hopes. So maybe through that, I'll feel like a princess. However, I think love is essentially the feeling that will surround me when I find whoever it is.

I hope you have a blessed week :)

Emma Jane

B&R (Books and Relationships)

Imagine you're carrying an open book and it's dropped. Now, there's no way you're able to pick the book up and turn to the exact page you were on, right? (let's assume there's no bookmarks) Right. That's what relationships and friendships seem to be like, an open book-subject to close whenever a time comes. It's scary to open that book open again sometimes. It's even scarier to start reading a new book all together.

Recently, I've come to discover that starting a new relationship with someone is scary. I don't mean specifically like "lovey dovey dating" relationship, but an interaction between myself and another person. I'm intrigued by them, and of course want to further our relationship by letting them into my life, but it's scary. There's old wounds still in my heart from when I had opened up to the wrong people, and they had been books that were slammed shut. I don't believe that I'm alone on this, and if you're reading this, you aren't alone either. I think it's perfectly normal to be terrified of vulnerability. I've talked to plenty of people, and I usually give the advise "is the risk worth it? They aren't worth it if they don't respect the part of you that's decided to open up" However, here I am, deciding if the risk is even worth it. What if they decide to close the book? What if they run away? What if they don't like the part of me that's not as cool as they think I am?

I think our society has always prided itself on presenting the best versions of people as possible. This is exhibited in the appearance of celebrities, in instagram pictures, tweets, and so on...We do it too. Quite honestly, it gets tiring, trying to please people or impress them all of the time. This is what I tell myself when I'm forming new bonds with people. I've gotta let them see who I really am, because trying to do otherwise would be exhausting. It's almost like posting a no-makeup picture on instagram, for the whole world to see-physical vulnerability. If someone can't handle you when you're emotionally vulnerable, and being yourself, then they really aren't worth it (also, side note, I have to spell check the word "vulnerable" every time because it's so hard to spell).  But anyways, I think it's good to let your true self show, not the version of you that you're trying to be for someone else.

Also, back to this book thing. I just talked about how scary it is to open a brand new book and start reading. However, it's even scarier to pick up a book that was dropped and open it again and start reading. Because sometimes the words seem to be in a different language and all out of order looking. Right now I'm referring to broken friendships. They could have ended because of a previous relationship, a dumb fight, or a natural separation. In order to be back in someone's life, I think one must realize that the book was dropped, bruised, and shut closed for a significant amount of time. I have no magical answers on how to restart a relationship that was once ended. I'm still struggling with that one myself. Maybe it takes acknowledgement on both ends of the faults of each party involved, and the will to want to move passed those faults in a more productive way than anger. But I don't know honestly. Turning each page is a slow process, through the hurt, confusion, anger, regret, resentment, and sadness. I believe the pages eventually become happier things, like forgiveness, remorse, understanding, peace, patience, and love. However, it's work to get there.

I think we all struggle with either opening a new book, or re-opening old wounds. I refuse to believe i'm perfect, or anywhere near close. I can't offer much, other than what i've learned through personal and vicarious experience. However, at the end of the day, no matter how fragile, heavy, or scary your personal book is (that may be a little bruised), God has his hand in all of it. He's got the WHOLE WORLD in his hands!!!  That means you too!!!

Also, class ranks and GPA's came out today. Remember that it doesn't define you at all. Jesus still died for you regardless of what that number says.

Anyways, sorry for the metaphor that gets too hard to follow sometimes.

Emma Jane :)