High school is often seen as a stepping stone to bigger and better opportunities. It is an obstacle that one must overcome in order to get to the next stage of their life. However, high school can be perceived as something that delays the potential of an individual instead of developing it. This often leads to feelings of hatred and intense dislike in relation to high school. But what if I said that you will actually miss many hidden parts of high school. You will miss the inside jokes, the simplicity, the teachers, and even the grievances. A survey by OnePoll found that “70% of adults feel nostalgic about their high school days,” with many missing the friendships, favorite teachers, and structure routine they once had. Why are these times savored in the future when they are hated right now? During high school, friendships are built on shared experiences: these can be similar classes, funny moments with teachers, or even that one difficult math quiz. According to a National Association of Student Personnel Administrators study, “68% of people say their closest lifelong friends were made in high school.” Friendships act as the center of one’s world. Personally, I see my friends everyday, and through sharing classes and eating lunch with them, I’m able to develop these close friendships. A unique aspect in these close friendships include inside jokes. These jokes may seem small at the time but eventually have the potential to become cherished memories. Although the catchphrases, trends, and friends may fade later in one’s life, those memories remain forever as one’s identity is developed. High school friendships are some of the most formative in a person’s life, but once those 4 years end, people take on different paths, making it extremely difficult to maintain those once unbreakable bonds between friends. Instead of seeing your friends every day, you now have to make a conscious effort to keep in touch. College, internships, and jobs make those conversations about that difficult math quiz feel like they took place in a different lifetime, so it is important to cherish high school instead of viewing it as an obstacle. 

In addition to the jokes and friendships being left in the past, one must not take for granted the simplicity of structured days. Most students cannot wait to leave behind the rigorous schedule of high school—waking up early and remaining in the building for hours on end. However, it is shown that structure in general helps reduce stress and maintain a sense of stability. In a 2022 study by the American Psychological Association, “62% of young adults reported struggling with time management and routine after leaving high school.” High school provides a balance of work and social life that many people cannot appreciate until they are under immense stress later in their lives. The predictability incorporated in the high school schedule can be surprisingly comforting and is only really appreciated after it has been replaced with a separate, chaotic schedule. Another overlooked benefit of the high school structure is the built-in time for social interaction: having your friends in classes, lunch periods, and even in the same building makes having casual conversations much easier. After high school, friends’ lives could be so far apart that consistently conversing becomes a pipe dream. Finally, high school provides a reasonable relationship between work and downtime. Although the work may seem excessive and often challenging, there are sports, clubs, and other social activities planned to create a noticeable separation between work and fun. While high school currently may seem stressful and many people cannot wait for the end, many long for it due to the unpredictable life after graduation. 

In this time, teachers and mentors play an important role in shaping students academically and personally. Currently, it is simple to take their guidance, but later on in life, people realize how important these figures are. It’s even possible that they have become a mentor to someone else, passing the torch of guidance. These specific educators not only act as authority figures but also as motivators and supporters. Everyone has had that one teacher that makes their specific subject more enjoyable, believed in them, or simply made it exciting to enter their class. These educators leave lasting impressions as shown by a 2022 Gallup poll: “75% of adults can name at least one teacher who had a significant impact on their life.” Once high school ends, the safety net of having supporting role models around disappears. In an environment as fast-paced and vicious as college or the workplace, there are undoubtedly fewer people constantly checking up on you and motivating you. While high school can feel like another phase to get through, the teachers who take part in it are not always present in adulthood so it is crucial to acknowledge and appreciate them while you still can.   

Although high school can feel like an obstacle preventing you from enjoying life, many do not realize how much they will miss this time before it is gone. The inside jokes between friends, the structured routine, and the teachers who offer more than education will all become cherished memories. After graduation, friendships require more effort to maintain, the freedom of adulthood comes with new challenges, and the guidance of mentors is not as plentiful. While exciting opportunities are ahead, high school’s simplicity and connection are close to impossible to recreate. Instead of attempting to rush through it, take a moment to appreciate the laughter, the routine, and the people that make it meaningful.