High school bucket list
School life seems to last forever, but it doesn't. Kids will never believe it but once you get older your actions will have consequences. School life is the one time you can be this carefree.
This article was written with school-goers in mind so unlike most of SHOUT's articles, the younger you are the more you'll be able to relate to it.
School is the one place where they teach us right from wrong; where they prepare us for the great adventure that awaits us: life. After roughly a decade of attendance, school turns into something of greater emotional significance than just a building. The teachers that chase after you for evading classes change into people that you can't imagine not looking back at (literally, because you're running away most of the time). The friends you'd made morph into individuals that are wackier than you deem yourself and tend to bring out the best, craziest and most amazing in you. As soon as you realise that you're graduating soon, you also come to terms with the fact that there are plenty of things that you would've perhaps liked doing while still in school but didn't.
This wish-I-did list varies from person to person. For some it could be attaining a scholarship, while some might want to attend prom in jeans and a tee. Then there are the ones that just want to put sparklers under that one teacher's desk. Mehrul (19) says, “I guess one thing that everyone should at least try and do while in school is date someone they really like.” Go forth, take a risk and ask that quiet girl in English class out for ice cream. Ask that one cute football player from the school team out for dinner. The worst that can happen is rejection, but isn't this how we learn? In the long run you won't even remember it.
Before graduating, make it a point to travel somewhere with just your friends. Maybe wait till you turn 18, but do give it a try. It could be to the forest in Sundarbans or the beach at Cox's Bazar. Or you know what? Visit your grandfather's farmhouse in the middle of nowhere if you have to. Don't make them day trips; choose a destination where you can relax for a few days. Get off the grid, away from Facebook and WhatsApp. The ideal trip would be somewhere you can explore a small town, somewhere you can explore nature, somewhere you can play and somewhere you can relax. You don't have to cover all of them in just one trip. Take a few but make them last more than a day. All that really matters is the good company and the memories that you're likely to come back with.
School also means embracing school spirit. As much as we whine and rant about our uniforms, we also have to admit that school pride is something that we undoubtedly have within us. Underneath the conformity that we are subjected to lies a love for your school that really doesn't show its true colours until someone points at something negative about it. While in school, a must-do is definitely to go to a school game. Be it basketball, football, volleyball or even a chess tournament; the idea is to attend it in a big group, preferably a whole batch. Then you proceed to cheer at the top of your lungs. Opt for typical school songs and chants armed with posters and placards or go crazy and paint your face with wild school colours!
Learn to play an instrument or start working out. They help release stress, which you'll be no stranger to during university life. There's a saying that it takes 20 days to form a habit and you'll have the most free-time in your life while you're at school.
Take part in sport. This is a fairly simple thing to do, but very fulfilling. You needn't represent your school against other schools or represent your class against other classes. Just play with your classmates. Taking part in a sport where the teams on each side are fairly large is a great way to improve camaraderie. Play football, basketball, volleyball, cricket or even handball. Badminton and table tennis are fun, and can help you better bond with one person (unless you're playing doubles).
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Playing tag was a part of everybody's school life when they were younger. Revisiting the game as an older kid is an invigorating experience and brings back memories of days gone by. You can't really do stuff like that once you're past a certain age. Time is of the essence, play tag with your class one last time. Bring up the idea and try and get as many people as you can to gather at an agreed upon location on the weekend to play tag.
Participate in a school play. If acting is not your thing, then assist as a stagehand. This should be quite high on your list of priorities because once you leave school, unless drama or theatre is a specific interest of yours, it is unlikely that you'll come across the chance to do this again. If the cast goes around the country performing in different schools, then you've got another reason to be a part of this.
Go to a fast food restaurant with your friend circle. Don't pick a place that's too high end and will kick you out if you start getting rowdy. Now that you're there, enjoy yourselves. Do more than just eat, make a racket, get loud, laugh at stupid jokes and make parents regret bringing their young children there.
When you're done reading this, you'll be feeling one of two things. First is motivation, to go out there and grab life by the shoulders. Then your school life will truly be the golden years of your life and you can look back on them without regret. The second is regret for not having grabbed shoulders and kicked behind when you had the chance. Instead of moping about, don't pass up opportunities any more. Put a positive spin on this depression and turn it into determination for the future. It's never too late to live.
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