5 things I wish I knew better in high school

(Author is far left, first row; Junior High School Class with Class Adviser and Chemistry Teacher Ms Michelle Morante-Singson)

This entry is aptly titled "5 things I wish I knew better", with a life phase - high school - in loud punctuation.

Here are 5 things I wish I knew better during the 4 years I was in high school, and I will inevitably pass these on to my son to ensure he gets the maximum ROI out of this youthful phase. 

1.) Discern your vocational pathway early on. During my pre-University days, I was a jack-of-all-traits with no depth of liking to any field. I did not research much about in-demand courses for the succeeding decade(s). I was dictated by the need to "perform" in school and get the highest marks possible. Grades were, after all, the most celebrated "measures of learning".

Consequentially, I came out of high school with no definite career plan. I was very much a product of a banking system that only took in as much input as what was fed. I was ready to take orders from the higher ups and deliver. But never did I challenge any systematically embedded orders dictated top-down. Out of school, I was willing to take any job offer regardless of the pay, working hours, and lack of work-life balance. 

But thankfully, I learned that life does not bind you to deadlines. It took a while before I finally decided what I really want for life. And I am confident that I am now in a thriving profession where I can grow and contribute. 

2.) Read, read, and read widely. It was a great shame that my reading materials in high school were limited to textbooks. Yes, I heavily read all those textbooks from cover to cover. The Internet during my high school era was only at its infancy, so I rarely got exposure to literature, legitimate news feeds, video learning materials, and more that today's school-going generation enjoys. 

I did corporate writing for my career's first 10 years,  and I went through so much writer's block for lack of inputs. This could have been very well compensated by the wealth of knowledge openly offered across multi-platforms (e.g. public and academic libraries, on-site industry exposure, contacts with subject experts, and so forth). And yes, I should have had a wide array of reading materials - from fiction to non-fiction to investigative reports and business write-ups.

3.) Be totally devoted to something that is completely non-academic. I realised that avenues such as sports or music can make learning so much more fun and holistic. I was completely wary of extracurricular activities in high school due to the amount of involvement these could have required. But I was wrong!

Mothering a nearly 3-yr-old, I am already exposing my son to outdoors and different musical genres to draw his attention to these. And I am happy to report that he enjoys reciting ABC as much as going for a dip in the pool and dancing in public with live band music on. :) 

4.) Health is wealth. This is more than cliche, but I am biased to say that our academe's most important core subjects are health and physical education. It matters not if I am able to score perfect in a physics exam if my body is failing! 

When I entered college, I fed my body with so much junk from fast food stalls along Katipunan, and this is something I am not proud of. I was one of those victimised by a multi-billion dollar food industry that sells highly manufactured and processed food items that can only do harm. Thankfully, it isn't late yet to recover and I am happy with my health progress so far!

5.) Make friends, lasting ones. Unfortunately, I lost touch with my high school friends over time, and I am unlike pals who periodically meet physically for catching up. Needless to say, I should have invested more in relationship building.

Hopefully, a reunion is not too far off. And since I am casually friends with anyone from my batch, it may not be too much if i gatecrash any mini reunion soon :)