I’m sure you’ve heard it all before. All the plaudits, complaints and advice from a sage member of a senior class. Here is my way to get this advice across: a playlist. Music is the universal language, so I’m trying to put what I’ve learned from high school into lyrics that everyone will understand. Now, don’t worry, this is not a list rife with cheesy songs about moving on and growing up (“Graduation” by Vitamin C and “Good Riddance” by Greenday won’t be showing up), it’s just some good music.

“Joy Ride” – The Killers
“There’s something in the distance/a glorious existence/a simple celebration”
This may sound a little dramatic to you ankle-biting underclassmen, but juniors and seniors should agree that college is indeed a “glorious existence.” After the stress of SATs/ACTs, the insane amount of work in junior year, and college applications in senior year (not to mention APs during both) it’s really the thought of college that keeps you going. It’s vital to take to heart the last part though: try and make the best of every situation in high school that celebrates something you’ve done right, and don’t lose sight of your goal – don’t make it your only focus – but, it’s okay to keep dreaming.

“Revolution” – The Beatles
“You tell me it’s the institution/ well, you know/ you better free your mind instead”
The most important lesson you can learn in high school is how to keep an open mind. We are lucky enough to live in a little pocket of the world that is not only privileged, but extremely diverse and tolerant. Take advantage of your ability to understand and learn to accept other points of view while staying true to your beliefs, and learning to step outside of your comfort zone. This world is becoming more and more interconnected, and if not now, then when can we learn to be tolerant? Be a force of change, a force of understanding and a force in your own right.

“The Boxer”– Simon & Garfunkel
“I am older than I once was, but younger than I’ll be”
This song is a classic, and an inspirational classic at that, but it’s this line in particular that struck me as wonderful. Middle school may have been the “awkward phase” but you’ll never stop growing in high school. Not physically, but mentally. You’ll learn more about people, interactions, your personality, your strengths and your weaknesses. In high school you’ll learn how far you’ve come, how much you’ve grown, but at the same time realize how much more you have to learn and hopefully, want to learn, and that’s a good thing. For the first time, being in a transitional stage isn’t awkward or embarrassing, it’s something you enjoy.

“In This City” – Iglu & Hartley
“And I found that round here, in this city, that I won’t disappear, in this city, I got nothing to fear / I try my best, and you do too, and all you want is something you can move to / everybody’s gotta get their kicks somewhere, everybody’s gotta fit in somewhere.”
High school is all about trying out new things. It’s the only place where you’re old enough to have some personal freedoms, be in a safe, controlled environment, and under the protection (and financial umbrella) of your parents. You’ve truly got “nothing to fear,” so go out and try everything in high school. Find where you fit in, try your best, and learn to love one or some of the countless opportunities offered at high school. Do something that feels right because it will make high school that much more enjoyable.

“How Far We’ve Come” – Matchbox Twenty
“Say your goodbyes if you’ve got someone you can say goodbye to/ Let’s see how far we’ve come”
No regrets. You shouldn’t have any when you leave high school. Don’t look back and wish you’d joined SGA or given Newspaper a try. You want to be able to look back and literally see how far you’ve come. The transformation from freshmen to senior does not seem drastic, because it happens one transitional year at a time, but when you reminisce over freshmen memories in the next few months you’ll realize it’s been a quantum leap. Make absolutely sure that you’ve controlled that change, and come out exactly as you hoped. Make high school a time you’re proud of, and a part of your personality and outlook that you carry for quite a while.

“Dashboard” – Modest Mouse
“Well it could’ve been, would’ve been worse than you ever know / The dashboard melted, but we’ve still got the radio.”
Make the best of whatever situation you’ve got. It’s not as bad as you think it is. High school can seem daunting, SAT prep can be awful, and college rejections can be downright painful. But keep in mind that it will get better, and it could have been much worse. And as much as you want to slap the next person who tells you to ‘look for the silver lining,’ I hate to say that they’re right – not that I’d ever admit it to them personally. Look not at what you’ve lost (or failed…), but what you still have. High school should be measured in what you’ve done right and not what you’ve messed up. Unfortunately, till Pinnacle starts accepting intangible grades like ‘failed test, but hair looks particularly nice today’ this will have to be a personal outlook.

“My Best Friend” – Weezer
“When everything is wrong I’ll come to talk to you/You make things alright when I’m feeling blue/You’re my best friend and I love you.”
Best for last. As cheesy as these lyrics sound, the punk rock, eclectic style of Weezer pulls them off and makes them easy to swallow and grin-worthy. This is the most important piece of advice you can ever use in high school. Friends are what make high school fun; best friends are what make high school unforgettable. Your best friends are your lifeline, your support group, your biggest fans and of course, your confidantes. It takes time to become best friends with someone, but when you do, don’t take it for granted. Try not to lose friends over silly fights; be understanding, be compassionate and be a good friend in return. Friends are the part of high school you’ll never regret, and hopefully never forget.

So take my advice, or don’t. Doesn’t really matter, you’ll figure it out by senior year I’m sure. Go plug in your iPods kiddies, so that even if you’ve gotten nothing else from this, my last journalistic stand at Churchill, at least you can add some great songs to your music repertoire.