15 Things I'd Do Differently If I Had High School To Do Over

I work with students - that's my job. It's a strange job. (I was planning on continuing that sentance, but I thought it stood pretty well on it's own.) Working with students asks me to constantly take myself out of my life situation and think from within the context of a student's life situation. Even though I'm only 5 years removed from High School myself, so many things have changed.

And so I recently spent some time thinking, "What would I do differently if I were to go back to High School?" Here are some of my thoughts:

1. I would build into my relationships with my parents - spending extended time just talking, being vulnerable, and opening up to them. I would value them more, respect them more, and show them active love.

2. I would pick my close friends sparingly and precisely. I had wonderful friends in high school, but I think that precision and intentionality in who you spend time with and allow to speak into your life is of the utmost importance.

3. I would slave over my schoolwork to present the absolutely best possible finished product to my teachers. It honors myself, my parents, my teacher's work, and most of all - God.

4. I would work on my handwriting. Mostly because I want better handwriting, and I don't want to work on it now - I rather I'd just worked on it then!

5. I would spend copious amounts of time in the Word of God - unashamedly answer life questions from friends and family through God's Word, and allowing it to penetrate and mold my heart.

6. I would find an adult mentor - a man 30 or more years older than myself who would agree to meet consistently with me and speak into my life from a Christian perspective.

7. I would watch fewer movies. One of my greatest regrets from High School is that I spent so much time in front of the TV.

8. I would deepen my relationship with by brothers. God has given us vast resources in our siblings, and High School is a time to nurture and strengthen those relationships.

9. I wouldn't date. Most of my dating in High School was innocent enough, but it put me in potentially compromising situations, focused my heart away from God, and chewed through a large portion of my time.

10. I would strive for diligence. Although my dad modeled diligence, it is still something I'm struggling to develop - and now it's essential. When in High School, I would treat the lax environment as an opportunity to develop and challenge my own lack of diligence.

11. I would share the gospel boldly. My friends knew that I was a Christian, but I rarely displayed an overwhelming desire that they too become Christian. I wasted many opportunities to share the gospel.

12. I would stay away from school politics. This might not be that big of an issue for most students, but I was deeply involved in our school's direction and focus -from advisory committees to Student Senate to just chatting with the principal. I wouldn't spend so much time in such a vain and self-glorifying role.

13. I would cultivate a sense of purity. So often, I would feel my innocence in High School led me to be shunned or made fun of. I would try and darken my language, or over-exaggerate sins to blend in with a non-Christian culture more readily. After seeing God's truths, noticeably in I Peter, I would seek to be outwardly innocent.

14. I would smile as much as possible - even to an annoying extent. Joy is a defining characteristic of Christians; in the angst-filled world of middle adolescents, I would smile as much as possible to show that I knew the one Rock that would provide foundation through whatever changes might occur.

15. I would play a sport. I was your typical, 'kinda sporty, almost athletic, but not-quite-good-enough-at-anything-to-be-involved' kid. I'd work harder and join an organized sport for the school year.