This season of moving up ceremonies and graduations makes us think back to our own high school years. It seems, looking back, that life was so simple then. From our adult perspective, those molehills were really just molehills. Yet back then, in the moment, they were towering, steep mountains that seemed impossible to climb.

With that in mind, the Parent Today crew took to social media to find answers to this question: What is one thing you wish you knew in high school?

Maybe some of what we now know we needed to learn along the way, or we wouldn’t have benefited from lesson we needed to learn. Maybe our experiences made us wiser, stronger and more resilient.

Here are some of the responses we heard:

• Nothing is as dire as it seems at 16.
• Your teachers are not the enemy. They do not hate you and, in fact, can be some of your biggest allies.
• Your parents are not the enemy either. In fact, parents have the answers to a lot of your questions.
• Savor your time in high school. Don’t rush to grow up, because someday you will look back and realize how precious the time was.
• Stay focused and believe in yourself. Anything is possible. And appreciate your family, since they will always be your biggest supporters.
• Take this time to learn a vocation. Most of us needed to work during our college years and/or early adulthood. Why not make a better wage and work at something that you’ll probably enjoy.
• Be true to yourself and accept yourself for who you are. That’s what will help you reach your highest potential.
• It doesn’t matter and will not matter in the future what anyone thinks of you. What matters is what you think of yourself.
• Have an open mind. Understand that you can do anything in life but it takes hard work. Know that the harder you work in school, the more knowledge you will gain.
• Appreciate others’ thoughts and opinions, and learn from them. Do not judge.
• Join committees or try activities outside your comfort zone.
• The life you lead is not based on your level of book intelligence, but the person you are and the actions you take. Remember, actions speak louder than words.
• Life is like high school, except there are more places to eat than the cafeteria.

What’s one thing you wish you knew in high school? Share with us in the comments box or on Facebook.

Tags: college, teens