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STUDENT LIFE
Cool Kids
BY JASMINE GO
January 2025
Photo: Courtesy of Jasmine Go
Dressing up, relationships, and putting makeup on were different before. Dressing up to be our favorite princesses, wanting to be just like them along with a Prince Charming. Being in a relationship was a big deal but required minimal yet caring actions. Love was defined as simply finding a flower and giving it to a friend; putting makeup on because we see our mothers do it, and our desire to be like her. We felt grown up by the idea of having makeup on our faces, but we were unsure as to why it made us feel that way. Our childhoods consisted of the good parts of life and hoping these innocent fantasies would happen to us one day when we were older. Our parents are the barrier between us and reality, making sure as children we see the best and bright side of life, not knowing what is on the other side behind the barrier.
When I was younger, I always enjoyed the thought of being a teenager and could not wait to be one. Watching teenage YouTubers living their American high school dream was very admirable to me. I thought that when I grew up, I would be one of those tall, blonde Americans who always had a smile on their faces, with a cup of Starbucks in hand, and would go on multiple hangouts in and outside of school. Looking back, I didn't even understand the concept of being in high school. I did not know when my high school years would begin, so I always acted older than I did: always on my device, not playing much with the other kids my age, and always wanting to stay with the older kids because I always admired how “cool” they were and could not wait to be like them someday. I have hindered my younger years by always trying to be older.
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However, looking back, I regret not enjoying being a kid; I did not realize how easy I had it. I did not realize what those YouTubers were concealing, and I did not realize how dreadful high school was going to be. Being in elementary school and middle school, I wasted all those years trying to be older, not knowing how much I would want to be younger.
I had a dream: a dream to be a rich and successful businesswoman. I did not know that in these next four years, it would prepare me for what I have to offer in those fields. This is only the beginning of my journey, my dream that could come true. High school years are not only about the fun of hanging out with friends but also the preparations for college.
Although I am only in my second year of living those teenage years and have many more to experience, the teenage life I wanted to experience when I was younger was not as different as the life I have now. I am thankful for my friends and the experiences I went through. My friends not only push me to be the better version of myself, but they bring out my younger self, my immaturity that I rarely got to fulfill when I was younger. Even if I am one of the eldest in my group of friends, it is frequently mentioned how I act like the youngest. I guess this is my subconscious mind letting me experience my childhood by goofing around with those I feel closest to.
Photo: Courtesy of Jasmine Go
Other than living the life my younger self has looked up to, my younger self did not realize the downsides of high school years. On YouTube in 2017, they made going to freshman year fun: “First Day of High School!!.” But during my moving-up retreat last year, it finally hit me that I have to take freshman year and the next three years seriously. I need to know what I want to be; I need to have a plan; I need to have extracurricular activities; I need to stand out for college applications. Thinking about this overwhelmed me. I was scared and did not want to go to high school. I felt as if I was not ready.
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Nevertheless, I believe everything happens for a reason, so regardless of the regrets I have, I am forever thankful to my friends for distracting me from overthinking and stressing out about my future.
I am currently at the end of my first semester in high school, and if I could tell my 8th-grade self any advice — or even my younger self — it would be to enjoy it while you can; you will miss it a lot.
Photo: Courtesy of Jasmine Go