As the school year gradually draws to an end, I can't help but notice the indescribable shift in my direction. I've written about this before, check it out somewhere in my page. But this time, I wanna elaborate more on letting loose and not stressing about stuff like this.

Yeah, we should be concerned about our grades, I still am, of course... but not in the way that it hinders me experiencing what high school should really be all about: the best four years of our lives. It's about trying new things, it's where we get punched by failure 10 times in the face, where we get hurt by people we never expect to do so, it's about going on trips to the guidance counselor's office but still laughing about it afterwards, it's about every 'bathroom' trip which leads to cafeteria roaming, it's about having fun and being free from stress. You couldn't do all of these things when you go to college. College is what matters most. It's what actually counts.

A couple of years from now, when I am pressured by college, or even by getting a job, or  by the job itself, I wouldn't want to look back and say "I should've enjoyed my high school life. I should've cut myself some slack. I should've given myself a break." I want to have flashbacks that involve having fun with the craziest friends in the universe. As much as I hate my school, I really have no choice but to tolerate it. After all, the school doesn't matter... fun is what I make of it.

I'm not saying fail all your subjects or be impulsive or cut classes. You can still have awesome grades and fun at the same time. Just learn to manage your time. When the time comes that I have children, when they ask me what I did in high school, I don't wanna say "I spent 24/7 studying, honey." I wanna say "Well, I had great grades, and I had tons of adventures, and a lot of fun. In fact, if you'd make my high school life a book, it would be greater than any other series in the history of books."

Bottomline is, don't strain yourself over studying. Let loose. Take breaks. You deserve it. High school isn't about what you learn in your textbooks, it's about what you learn through your experiences. And how can you learn from your experiences if you don't take time to make them? Don't be afraid to make wrong choices. Better make them now, when they won't leave damages that matter, than in the future, where every choice counts. Make most of the moment. Carpe Diem.

“The secret of life, though, is to fall seven times and to get up eight times.” - Paulo Coelho

 That is officially one of my favorite quotations. According to what I've read on multiple tumblr posts, John Green said that most of our favorite quotes say more about us that the person we're quoting. And it's true. I've been pushed around by fate too many times. I've gone through a faux pas involving depression, and I once thought of my life as the worst one there is. But ever since I woke up from that nonsense, I started to make a move towards the pursuit of optimism. Of course, I won't be the most optimistic person in a snap, but I'm gradually going there.

Pessimism doesn't just degrade my self-esteem, but it also pulls me towards wrong choices and utter impulsiveness. I became reckless, disregarding school work and concentrating on how awful my life is. But this time, I've changed, or I sure hope so. Every time something unlucky happens to me, instead of instinctively sulking about it, I contemplate on why it happened. And that's a good thing. It's being optimistic, i think. lol.

Thing is, being optimistic helps me make most of my life. In the past, I always put myself in the worst case scenario.... Well, to be honest, i still do that. But truth is, I actually think that's the only pessimistic act that's helpful. Imagining the worst outcome prepares you for it. When it happens, you wouldn't be shocked and sad and hurt or mad, but you'd be totally considerate and ready since you already pictured it. But aside from that, pessimism wouldn't really take me anywhere.

So, all the failures I've experienced are only challenges. They are only stepping stones towards becoming a totally new and improved person. Failures are the stairway to success. And I wouldn't mind experiencing one or two failures in the future, with the hope and knowledge that everything is going to fall into place.