I remember admiring the high schoolers who came to visit my school to show us science experiments when I was in fifth grade. They seemed so intelligent and mature — more than I thought I could ever be. I wanted to be just like them: all grown up, their whole future figured out to the last detail and never afraid of anything.

Now that I’ve been through high school, I know almost everything I thought about those people was wrong. Most of us don’t really have it all together like I used to think, and that’s OK.

If I saw those same high schoolers through my current perspective, I probably wouldn’t have been as awe-struck. When I was younger, they were something to look up to, but now I see myself in their place.

I’ve made countless mistakes during my time here. Some are small and insignificant, and some choices from as far back as freshman year still affect my life. From changing myself to please others to getting involved in things I’m not really interested in just to feel like I matter, if I could do it all again, it would play out very differently.

I’d prioritize my most important friendships over the more casual ones, stress less about things I can’t control, push to reach my goals and stand up for myself and so much more.

I didn’t know what I was doing, which is pretty much how life goes. Not everything that goes wrong has to mean the end of the world. We’re all trying to make it through and reach our goals, and messing things up only shows us how to be better next time.

I may not have it all figured out, but I know how I want to lead the rest of my life.

The mistakes I made in high school won’t always matter because I’ll do my best not to make them again.