A Look Back | 10 Things I've Learned in 10 Years after High School


It's 2017 already which means it's been 10 years since I graduated from high school (ahh!)! With a potential 10 year reunion in the works, graduations happening left and right, and a little inspiration from one of my favorite photographers, Jenna Lynn Photography (who also captured these amazing shots), I wanted to share something a bit more personal with you guys and open up to my life experiences over these past 10 years and important things that I have learned.

1) I really enjoyed my time in high school and I still value my friendships I've kept from them till now. I'm still close with my core group of friends and I keep in touch with them regularly. I've learned that it's okay to have friends in different groups even if they're completely different from the other. Be friends with who you want to be friends with.
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At the Columns of HNA
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2) You will lose contact with some people and some people who were in your life who just aren't meant to be there later on. As much as you want to be in contact with everyone or maintain those friendships, sometimes, they just don't last or you simply grow apart.

3) Adulting sucks! Things were really so much easier in high school when you're biggest worries about college, going to prom etc. Now you have to worry about bills, insurance, pressure to date/start a family, job security, and more. It can be a bit overwhelming at times!

 5) A traditional four year college plan isn't for everyone and school sometimes just isn't your thing. It took me 5 years to earn my BA degree and back then, I thought that would slow me down, but in reality it was just the time I needed to complete school. Your schooling doesn't always define your careers. It can be for some, not not always for all. There's also nothing wrong with going to a trade school for something you actually enjoy such as beauty school, mechanical school, massage school, and so much more.

4) You may not have it all figured out then, and it's definitely okay if you still don't have it all figured out. I didn't find my ideal "career" until well after I graduated from college and I started internships later than the 'normal' age. And that's okay. You're not always going to find a job in your major, and it takes time and hard work to be where you want to be. I can't say this goes for everyone, but it was the case for me.
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6) It can take time to find yourself and be comfortable in your own skin. Some people never have this issue, but some people do well into their adult life. I've seen it all around me, especially as a pole dance instructor, and I see that everyone grows in their own time. There's no time frame to figure it all out and to fit it all in, it comes when you're ready and no one should pressure you or push you to be something you don't want to be. This can go for any scenario. I was definitely comfortable in high school but not in all aspects. What I may thought of as being 'myself' was probably somewhat of an illusion as I truly know presently that I am more 'me" than I was back then.
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7) Try things that may make you uncomfortable and don't be afraid to put yourself out there. For me, this included blogging. I used to be wary of putting myself out there or voicing my opinions on items even as simple as beauty products, but I found it to be a creative gateway that I thoroughly enjoyed. Blogging has grown on me and has also expanded to so much more than beauty with some amazing opportunities along the way. With the rise of social media in the few recent years, I'm able to share even more with whoever is willing to listen (read, haha). I've also made some amazing connections and friendships through social media which is pretty cool =) . I used to care a lot about what people thought about me, or afraid to be judged by others, and hey people even talked sh*t about me behind my back. But as I got older, I learned that their opinions of me really don't matter and if they want to talk bad about me I can't stop them. Not everyone will like you: you will always have people out there that just have something bad to say about you and you learn to just brush it off and be the bigger person and still wish them well.

8) Spending time with my family has been more important to me the older I become. You tend to want to spend a lot of time with friends, going out, doing whatever when you are a young adult, but now that I'm in my late 20s, I value my time with a family a whole lot more.

9) Travel as much as you can. Traveling is one of the greatest experience in life, especially to a foreign country where you are immersed in another culture. Even if you travel within your own country, visiting another state/city has many new experiences tied to them as well.

10) Do what makes you happy. This can be a simple as reading a new book in the park to as extreme as dining at a 3-star Michelin restaurant. Life really is too short to not enjoy life and being bitter isn't good for your or for those around you that care about you. I could go on and on at this last point, but we'll keep it at that.
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Mimi Chica Kimono - Marshalls (similar HERE)
Pink Slip On - Target (similar HERE)
Earrings - Korean Store in Kent

There's so much more I could say in what I've learned these past 10 years but that would be a novel that no one (not even myself) would have time to read, haha. I hope you enjoyed getting to know me a little bit more in this blog space and if you have anything you'd like to share about what you've learned these past years, please do share! I'd love to read them =)

-Kirstie

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