3 Things I Would Tell Myself Before Entering High School

Since I am about to start college, I have spent a lot of time reflecting on what I would go back and tell myself before starting high school. High school definitely taught me an abundance of things, but there are some key things that I wish I would have known. So let's go ahead and dive in ☺️

1. His grace is sufficient for me. His power is made perfect in my weakness. ( 2 Corinthians 12:9)

Throughout my entire high school experience, I was always operating out of an innate desire to achieve perfection. Whether that was perfection pertaining to my grades, my performance in extracurriculars, friendships, outward appearance… basically everything. It was a very dangerous thing and something that I am honestly still fighting today. Back then, I consistently found that when I was thriving in one area of my life, there was another area of my life that still needed work. Being a perfectionist, this caused me much anxiety on so many occasions.

If things went wrong, I felt as though I hadn't worked hard enough.

If things went wrong, I felt as though I was unqualified.

If things went wrong, I felt as though it was my fault.

It was only towards the end of my high school experience that God really started showing me that there is beauty in our imperfections.

In an interview I conducted on my podcast, my friend Marexy said it best ⬇️

I wish that I would have accepted earlier that our true friends don't want our perfection- they just want our true selves. I touched on this a bit in my Salutatorian speech. Here's an exert from it that is very near and dear to my heart. It pretty much sums up everything I am trying to say:

We think were made of numbers, percentages on tests, pounds on a scale, likes on a photo, and price tags on clothes. But we're not. We're made of love, happiness, and the way we laugh. We're made of good memories and late nights. We have more substance than numbers.

Friends, this life is much more than titles and status. People don't love you because you always make A's in Precal. They don't love you because you've won this many awards, you weigh this much, or that you have this many name-brand clothes. They may not say it, but those that truly love you, love your heart. So don't stress so much over the little things. Some of the most impressive people I know don't necessarily have the highest status or most prestigious accomplishments. Instead, they have the best character. It's the people who take time out of their day to congratulate me when they don't have to, those who never compromise their integrity for likeability, the guys who don't think it's simping to treat the girls with respect, and the girls who strive for a beauty that could be felt and not just seen. These are the types of people we need more of in this world."

Super powerful when we actually believe it. As important as performing well is, it is equally important to have a healthy body, a healthy mind, a healthy soul. To do this, we need to leave perfection in the dust and simply embrace continuous improvement.

Here is another quote that I love that I would like to share before I move to my next point💞

2. Be where your feet are.

This is a statement that I'm afraid I miserably failed to live out throughout high school simply because I was always worried about what was next for me. When was my next test? When was my next contest? When was my next event?

As a part of a group I was apart of in high school, I was required to take a personality assessment called the CliftonStrengths test. Essentially, the test allows people to discover what they naturally do best, learn how to develop their greatest talents into strengths, and use their personalized results and reports to maximize their personal potential. If you know me, you know I am all about this type of stuff!!

My second most prevalent strength was "futuristic."

Here's part of the small description they gave me:

"Instinctively, you are energized by your plans for the coming months, years, or decades. Bringing your ideas to life is an exciting proposition for you. You sense you have the power to transform whatever you think is possible into tangible outcomes. Driven by your talents, you frequently share your vision about the coming years or decades with other forward-looking thinkers. You cannot refrain from talking about all the things human beings can create or accomplish in the future. Chances are good that you naturally spend a lot of time creating innovative ideas about what will be possible in the weeks, months, years, or decades to come."

Pretty intense I know, but very true for me.

Though my oftentimes futuristic mindset can be very beneficial, it also comes with an abundance of costs. For instance, I sometimes lack the capacity to truly "live in the moment."

I wish that I could go back and be more present because in hindsight, I miss the small moments- FFA trips, cheer activities, and laughing with my friends that came with high school.

Still, this motivates me to remember to be present now.

Every season deserves intention and attention.

3. Embrace what makes you different.

I feel like in high school everyone wants to fit in. Everyone wants to be cool. Everyone wants to be like everyone else.

One of my biggest passions through high school has been writing. I love words and often share positive messages through Instagram and Snapchat. I am very open about my faith, but this has also opened the door to a lot of criticism 😬

I have received comments like

"No one reads your long captions."

&

"You post too much."

Not gonna lie, at times these words really took a toll on my heart 💔

I've had days where I question the passions God has given me and debated whether or not I should continue to pursue them. It's been a difficult journey, BUT ⬇️

My prayer is that I would have the strength to be diligent in my obedience to God's plan even if nobody else understands it.

You can actually find this quote under the quote tab at the top of the page.

Though my passions of writing, podcasting, personal development, nutrition, etc. have been criticized, I have also received an abundance of support from some people.

It's those people that I continue to do what I do for.

Where would I be if some of my biggest inspirations like Sadie Robertson & Emma Mae Jenkins let fear keep them from sharing what was on their heart because of the criticism of those around them?

One of the best quotes that I try to live by is "Be the person you needed when you were younger."

I find that when I focus on that, I can find clarity and purpose behind my passions.

So, essentially, I would go back and tell younger Bailee that her unique hobbies and interests will lead her on a path to finding her future career, starting a blog, hosting a podcast, and making some incredible friendships. I would tell her that every single season offers an opportunity for growth. I would tell her that her perceived flaws would one day become her strengths. And most importantly, I would tell her that God will make something beautiful from it all.

And the same is true for you and me in this season & every season 🍁❄️☀️💐

Thank you for reading! Make sure to leave a review or prayer request using the "leave a message tab" at the top of the page!

Much love,

- bailee !!🤍