Learning More Than A Syllabus

What High School Would Have Never Taught Me

As my time in the Middle College program at Mt. Hood comes to an end, I’ve been thinking about everything these past two years have taught me – not just academically, but personally. I started this journey unsure of what I could handle, surrounded by doubt (including my own), and somehow ended up with not only a degree but an entirely new perspective on who I am and what I’m capable of.

These weren’t just school years; they were life years, full of long nights, hard choices, amazing people, and quiet moments that shaped me in ways no high school classroom ever could.

If I had to sum it all up, I’d say these are the three biggest lessons I’m walking away with, after two years here:

 Lesson One: What’s hard for someone else might actually be within your reach, so don’t let their fear become your limit. I learned this lesson when I joined the Middle College program and decided to go for an associate degree along the way.

People told me to slow down: “Why rush?” “That sounds like too much.” “Just take the normal route.” I get it – they were worried. And honestly? They weren’t completely wrong. For the past two years, I ran on a steady diet of caffeine, stubbornness, and the sheer adrenaline of wanting to say, “See? Told you I could do it.” And you know what? I did.

Forcing myself to keep pushing forward was the best decision I ever made. Not just for my grades or my resume, but for me, for who I’m becoming. I gained the best two years of my life. I grew more than I ever thought possible. I met people from all over the world. I saw how they lived, what they valued, and what I do and don’t want for my life.

That experience changed me, and it only happened because I didn’t listen to the fear, even when it came from people who seemed smarter, older, or more experienced. That’s why I’m telling you now: If something’s tugging at your heart, go for it. Don’t let other people’s doubts define your potential. The biggest regret of your life won’t be what you did; it’ll be what you didn’t do.

Lesson Two: Let it go. Let go of the failed test, the bad grade, the mean comment that’s still echoing in your head. Let go of the pressure to be perfect and the idea that one mistake ruins everything.

That D you got? That time you froze up when presenting? That one friendship that didn’t end the way you hoped? I promise you, it won’t matter soon. What will matter is how you carry yourself after it. You are not your bad days. You are how you keep going. And I know it’s hard. We’re young and everything feels so big. But carrying that weight only holds you back.

Make space for growth, joy, and peace. You don’t owe anyone perfection – you owe yourself freedom.

Lesson Three: Stop waiting. David Handler, aka Lemony Snicket, once wrote: “If we wait until we’re ready, we’ll be waiting for the rest of our lives.”

And it’s true. From the moment we wake up, we’re waiting. For school to end. For the weekend. For summer. For college. For life to finally start. But in all that waiting, we miss the now. I was so focused on the future – on college, on earning A’s, on what’s next – that I missed the laughs in the hallway, the chaos before class, the weird inside jokes that only made sense here. And I regret that.

So, please… don’t do the same. Soak it in. These years fly by. This is it. This is life – right now. Hug your friends. Laugh too loud. Cry, if you need to. Live in it, because one day it’ll all be a memory, and you’ll wish.