hey besties,

today we’re gonna chat about change, specifically, why it’s important and how to learn to adapt. this is one subject i feel that i have some expertise in. i’ve gone to four schools, moved states, changed friend groups, and more. not only is change the only consistent part of life but it’s also a massive part of your teen years. everything in life is changing whether its the shift from one grade to another, your relationships with others in your grade, or your grades themselves. change throughout life as a teenager is rapid-fire and happens when you least expect it. but don’t worry, cause today we’re going to discuss the dire need to go with the flow.

change in friendships/relationships

this year was my first year of high school and so much has changed. more than i could have ever imagined. let me say, first, changes at home are a part of life but they’re not necessarily something you can really prepare for. changes at school, on the other hand, are to be expected. whether you’re changing from one grade to another within high school or especially if you’re going from middle school to high school you can’t expect your relationships with people to stay the same.

trust me, this may seem bad but you might just be better off. in all honesty, sometimes it’s better to be hurt by those you trust early on so that they won’t hurt you even more later. some people’s friendship is much more harmful than helpful and it’s truly better to learn that before it’s too late although it doesn’t always feel that way in the midst of change. you have to learn to keep hoping even when it might hurt you in the end, because that’s better than to be trapped in your own sorrows.

changes in relationships don’t have to all be negative though. you might get closer to people who you never would have thought you’d be close with even a few months before. i got really close with another girl in my grade this year when we were friends but not close last year. now i tell her pretty much everything. change leads to growth and i know it might seem scary at first but isn’t that so exciting? you’re learning so much about yourself, who you are, how you operate, your place in this world. and that’s sounds like a pretty good change to me.

how to adapt

with all of this, you need to learn how to decide what things are right for you. friends, as we’ve already discussed, but even schools. i just finished my freshman year at the school i’ve been attending since 6th grade and this year i realized it was just not a good fit for me. it’s not the place i need to be to have the life i want to live and the things i want to experience and that is perfectly okay.

there will be many times in life where certain things just may not be for you and it may seem scary to leave what you know but in the end, when it’s right it’s so freeing. life is hard, and sometimes you hit a roadblock and have to reroute. it happens to the best of us. what you can’t do is stay there because you don’t know what lies ahead in this new direction. you should never limit yourself in that way. explore your options and you might find a treasure at the end of a new road.

i got redirected a lot this year and, not to brag, but i am proud of myself for the way i’ve bounced back. but i can’t entirely take credit for it. what makes us human is our complex connections with others and it’s so insanely important to have at least one person to talk to, i simply cannot stress this enough. and if you don’t have any friends, its okay you can make some later on. Plus, my email is on this website if you ever need to talk, i am always here to lend an ear to those who need it as well as to give advice if you’d want it.

high school is weird, but you got it! take care of yourself with all of the changes around you and remember to do what’s best for you.

your friend ♡

z