Stuff I wish I learned

When I was about to finish high school, I looked back and saw that a bunch of my friends and others that I knew were really good at certain things. One of my friends was a black belt, another was an awesome guitar player. Yet another was a great runner. I messed around with a few of these type of things in high school but never stuck with them. When I was finished, I was rather disappointed. I wanted to be awesome at something!

One of the things about picking a sport or a musical instrument or something else like that is that if you stick with it, just keep going, one day you'll wake up and be pretty good. Just accept it as something you do; don't think about your progress from one day or one week to the next; that will frustrate you. But over months and years, the changes will come. Just enjoy doing it. Whether it's music, or a sport, or some other extra-curricular activity, find something you enjoy and just do it!

Once I looked back at high school and realized I missed out I tried to make up for my lost time; I did learn to play guitar in college, and also became a fencer. And just like I said, after a few years, I was good! There's something really great about being skilled at something, very satisfying. Something you can take with you through your whole life. You can play tennis or basketball or anything your whole life, and the same goes with a musical instrument; plus you'll be great at parties.

One other thing I'm really sad I missed out on was a foreign language. Most high schools teach this, and I took the classes, but I never really tried or cared much. I wish I had. So many people I know in this modern world speak other languages well, and here I am, stereotypical dumb American, only speaking English. So, pick one language now and stick with it, take it all the way through part 3 or 4, whatever they offer. You'll be happy you did. You can use it later when you decide to travel the world and visit other countries.

So, in short summary: pick a sport or musical instrument (choir is fine too, your voice is an instrument!) and a language to stick with through your four years of high school, because when you're done you'll kick ass at those things.

Look at how much fun I have playing guitar!