I Graduated High School — Life Updates! | The Teen Safe Zone

I Graduated High School — Class of 2025!

*deep breath*

*que the graduation music*

*walks across the stage*

Here comes the grad, here comes the grad! 🎓

... And that's a wrap, folks! I did it!

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Hi everyone! Welcome, or welcome back, to The Teen Safe Zone where it's safe for teens to be themselves. I know, I know, looong time no see! This hiatus was (once again) quite unexpected, and I haven't had the time to post on here as much as I would have liked to this past year because life had other plans lol. But you know what they say: when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade... I guess apparently I did that because I graduated high school (and with Academic Honors)!!! That's right, high school is now in the rearview mirror!

This milestone was too important to not share it with you all! Especially considering the fact I started this blog at the very beginning of my freshman year back in August 2021! Despite not being able to post super frequently, this blog has essentially "grown up" with me and has always enabled a space where I can share the ups and downs, the good and the bad, and even the in-betweens on my little corner of the internet for people my age. I am extremely grateful for the readers and quiet supporters of my platform, and I plan to continue documenting this thing called "life" and my transition into young adulthood! I am eager to see where my future endeavors will lead me, and I'm here to take you all along!

Alright, alright, now onto the details I'm sure you've been waiting for and I couldn't wait until I could share it with you all! I graduated high school with Academic Honors during the last week of May, and I also got to wear a ton of tassels over my gown for my achievements in high school! As you can see in the picture above, I am wearing three double tassel ropes: two are gold, and one is purple. The first gold tassel represents graduating with honors. The second gold tassel represents being a member of the National Honor Society (and a bonus scoop: I was elected as President of our school's chapter for the past two school years in a row! I am incredibly grateful for my time served and the opportunities I had in NHS, and I'm sad to see it's over after all these years. I wish all the best for the next group of students who will be elected for officer positions in the following years!). The last tassel is purple and represents being a member of the National Technical Honor Society. This school year was the first chapter our school hosted for NTHS, so as you can imagine, we students were proud to be the first of many! Unfortunately, since it started during my last year of high school, I didn't get as much experience in this club as I would have liked, but it's a great opportunity nonetheless! I also graduated with enough college dual credits that are nearly equivalent to the entirety of my freshman year of college, so that means I will be entering college technically as a sophomore student and I could possibly graduate with my bachelor's in three years instead of four!

Looking forward post-high school, I will be attending college in the fall! This has been a dream of mine since childhood, and it's surreal to see it happening before my own eyes. This is the moment where you get to witness all of your efforts and hard work paying off, and even through that, I will honestly share that this process has still been everything but easy. Even with my final college decision made, and living through what is supposedly "the most exciting time" post-graduation transitioning this summer from high school graduate to college student, there is still a share of uncertainty I face, and if you're in a place similar, don't be afraid to voice your opinion.

During senior year, most of my time was dedicated to the college process; from the college search, then onto the admission process, the anticipation of whether you got accepted or rejected, weighing your options, and even once you make your decision, it feels like you still can't catch a break. There are lessons I've learned during this process, and there are things I strongly disagree/dislike about it as well. If anything, this process has taught me (and challenged me) to use my voice and stand up for what I believe in and what's best for me, mentally and physically, because that's something that will be constantly tested while stepping into the "real world". You will come across a point in life where you're challenged with outside opinions and it's easy for your mind to get clouded with everyone else's opinions but your own. Only you know what's best for you. Only you know what makes you comfortable, and you shouldn't allow something or someone else to take that away from you or try to convince you otherwise, college or not. ;)

Standing up for myself has been one of the most important things I've had to do during this process, and honestly, it has made me do things I never thought I'd have to do, even if that means turning down a full scholarship opportunity. You may not see the reason or the results from it right away. Sometimes you might even question if you're making the right decision or just "overreacting", but one thing I'd like to remind you is that you never have to apologize for standing up for yourself or what you believe in. Ever. On this Earth, you are your own advocate and biggest cheerleader. No one else will fight your battles stronger than yourself but God.

There are so many other things I would like to share regarding the college process, so look forward to new posts about that coming soon!

I would like to congratulate my fellow graduates! Remember that you've come too far to give up. Even when you can't see the finish line, you're always two steps closer than you think you are. Let this climb you've endured to only continue to push you further into your dreams, and whenever you find yourself slipping, always remember to encourage yourself. Don't feel bad for turning down an opportunity if it isn't the right one for you, there might be something bigger in store for you when the time is right!

Not to scare anyone off, senior year has its share of good things too (even if sometimes you have to search further than surface level to find it)! I will share tips and advice for senior year as well in upcoming posts, so stay tuned for that! To all rising seniors, I wish you the best and good luck! Don't stay focused on the pressure you might feel from impending adulthood. Enjoy the last of your youth while you can because you can never get it back. Remember you can't pour from a cup that isn't filled. It's okay to take breaks for yourself. It's okay to step back when things become too much to handle. It's okay to set your boundaries. Only allow things and people that enhance your light to shine brighter, and not dim your light.

To rising juniors/sophomores/freshmen, enjoy this time because you can never get it back. Make wise decisions, and I hope you'll remember my advice to the rising and graduating seniors when your time comes as well.

Once again, I am extremely grateful for all of you, and that you've been a part of my journey from the beginning! I am still quite busy this summer trying to get everything together in time for college, but I have a ton of things I'll like to share on here before I go off to college, so expect spontaneous posts from me this summer! I am also beginning the process of rebranding the website and blog little by little, so be on the lookout for that! See you soon!