As a high school student, there are things that happen in your life that are preparing you for the future in so many ways. Some of them are easier to see than others. For example, when you are stuck in traffic you are learning patience. When you are wrestling with a difficult math problem you are developing perseverance and logic. When you are helping a friend through a difficult break-up, then perhaps you are also learning how it will feel when someone later breaks your heart.
I can look back now on my life and see how really big moments that I never wanted to have happen have helped to prepare me for a future I never imagined. I will share one very obvious example with you... 10 years ago, I would go every day after school to help care for my dying grandfather and feed him dinner and visit with him. As he was getting closer to the time of his death, I communicated LOUDLY and FREQUENTLY to all of my family, the medical staff, and anyone who would listen that no matter what I did NOT want to be there when he died. But, that wasn't how it worked out. You may know that I now work part-time as a bereavement counselor at the Kobacker House with OhioHealth hospice, but I can assure you that if I had never had my own experience of seeing death first-hand I wouldn't be as effective at what I do in that job. When my grandfather died I had no idea where my life would take me in my future part-time job and there was NO part of me that was thinking, "well, at least this is training for something." But the reality is, that is precisely what the experience was in my life.
And you have these moments all the time too. As you are going through them, you will not always realize or imagine how they will help you in building the skills you will need in the future. Whenever possible, if you can lean into the experiences you are going through and learn from them, you will be able to have the skills you have developed accessible to you or those around you in the future.
I am in the lucky position that I often get to see students pulling on strategies that have helped them in the past or working to build new skills that will undoubtedly help them in the future. Stressed about a test, but you learn how to calm your body and remain focused - that will translate to stressful experiences in a job interview or key presentation you will have to give some day. Feeling overwhelmed and wondering if this is even worth it, but then finding the courage to speak your truth and get help - that will translate into having the courage to be present with others who are struggling and to provide hope in a way that your life story becomes a lighthouse representating a beacon of hope for others that are struggling. Your parents are fighting non-stop and you constantly feel as if you must walk on egg-shells to navigate things at home - this can lead you to developing a different approach to how you will parent your own children and what you want to make your home environment life for your own family some day. Truly, the examples are endless.
Everything is training for something. You are worthy of the training presented to you and you are capable of overcoming any obstacle which comes your way... especially if you realize that one aspect of the training is reaching out for help when needed. I believe in you. I can't wait to see what all of this training is preparing you for in the future and how you will change the world for yourself and for others.
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