Advice I wish I was given in high school

 Now, one may ask: What was the point of all the previous posts? Who cares about the life of the author? 

I wrote those things because I know that I am not the only one who has gone through that experience. While those experiences are my own, I'm sure there are many other students who have gone through a similar journey of uncertainty and finding their identity in high school. For high school students, here's my advice:

Find a compromise between you and your parents

  • Many times, arguments and disagreements happen between parents and children because one party is unable to meet the other at a midpoint. In South Korean households, many children have reported as having not-so great relationships with their fathers. In this academic article, Korean parents tend to follow a pattern where fathers are the "unemotional educator and disciplinarian" while mothers take on the role of the "nurturers". Fathers tend to take a backseat when it comes to education, and act solely as the unmoving foundation in most families.
    •    I think knowing where your parents are coming from and what kind of upbringing they had growing up gives you a different perspective on why your parents act a certain way. While most fathers have that hard exterior, there is without a doubt that there is love. They only act like that because their fathers acted in the same way. If you were to not have a hard exterior during the Korean War, life would become exponentially more difficult (no food, clothes, etc) While this does not excuse their behavior towards the rest of their family, being honest about how you feel with your parents is basic, and will lead to greater growth and closer bonds with your parents. 
Don't compare yourself with your classmates and focus on YOURSELF!
  • Now, this is obviously more easier said than done. It's hard when you hear your peers talking about their plans and what they want to do while you're still trying to figure things out. It makes you feel like you are unprepared and not ready for life outside of high school. There is also a lot of pressure from your parents. Because Korean parents always talk and gossip with their friends, you want to be a positive point of conversation by going to a great university and going into a money-filled career. 
    • However, you are not alone when it comes to your feelings of unpreparedness for college. According to a survey by YouthTruth, a national nonprofit organization focuses on assisting teachers formulate curriculum, while 59.5% of students feel that their schools have given them resources to help succeed after high school, only 44.8% of students feel positively about their career paths. Keeping these statistics in mind, there's no reason for you to feel like you're behind your peers; if anything, you are right next to your peers. There's no way to accurately predict what the future will hold. The only thing that you can control is how you perceive it, and going in with a positive mindset and believing that you will be perfectly fine wherever you go is essential. 
    • When it comes to pressure from your parents, it's hard to not feel like a failure when your parents are constantly badgering you about your grades and your future. However, at the end of the day, it's your life to live. Use high school as an opportunity to explore different career and subject options to find what you like and what you don't. While your choices may not lead to a career that will necessarily "bring in the money", I strongly believe that your parents will be more happy that you are in a career where you are happy with the work that you are doing. Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone, and be confident in your abilities! I believe that you are capable of great and wonderful things, so go out and be great!



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