Things I wish I had known at high school

High school is a weird and wonderful time. The halls are filled with raging hormones, emotions are everywhere and you're supposed to be learning about Pythagoras theorem whilst also trying to suss out if your crush fancies you back or not.

Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to relive High School knowing what I know now. Would it make the experience any easier? Would things be any less confusing? If I were to tell my 14 year old self some words of wisdom, this would be it...

1 - BRUSH YOUR HAIR!

I used to think that unbrushed hair meant hair with volume. It doesn't. To me, a hair that would be suitable for chicks to live in, was edgy. In reality I just looked like I had been dragged through a hedge backwards, and then stuck a pink bow clip in it.

2. Being 'the funny one' is actually brilliant.

I will never forget the moment when my mate turned round to me and said that she was the pretty one and that I was the funny one. I was heartbroken, and instantly thought that I was destined to live my life alone. Because OBVIOUSLY boys don't like girls to have a sense of humour. Girls are supposed to be cute little demur things who laugh at the boys jokes, but don't contribute their own. WRONG. Ask my fiancee and I'm sure he will say one of the main things that attracted him to me was my ability to make him laugh. Cracking jokes and making a fool of myself is something I am great at, and I refuse to be made to feel like it's something negative and unnattractive.

3. You will remember your embarrassing moments more than other people.

I made a tit of myself many times through high school. I was always the one that would prompt 'oh what has she done now', and my personal favourite is having dog poo on my top whilst on a date with my brand-new boyfriend (cheers Jess). I would spend hours reliving my cringe-worthy moments, wondering if there was a way of coming back from it with my dignity in tact. 6 years later those moments are more funny stories than reoccurring nightmares, and most of the time, people who witnessed the embarrassing moments don't even remember it. The lesson to learn is - don't stress the small stuff and keep acting like the loon you truly are.

4. Your sexual escapades (or lack of) have NOTHING to do with anyone else.

I got called 'frigid' quite a few times during high school. In the last year I dated one of the 'popular boys', which I obviously thought made me the coolest thing ever. In reality we had nothing in common but ahhhh to be 15 and all smitten again. I remember his friends being really mean and patronising to me because I wouldn't put out with this lad. All they would ever talk to me about would be when I was going to make their mate a very happy lad. They weren't actually interested in me or my interests whatsoever, just about what gossip they could banter about. In the end the relationship ended with us both still owning our v card...and looking back I'm so happy about it. I wish I could tell my young self that not wanting to lose your virginity is totally cool, and nothing to be embarrased about. The people who should be embarrassed are the people obssessed with other peoples sex lives.

5. Don't be a bitch.

I wouldn't say I bullied people at school. I would be mortified if people classed me as a bully. However, there are moments where I didn't stand up for people when really all they needed was someone in their corner. Sometimes I would even join in with the name-calling or bitching, just because that was the norm? It makes me cringe so much, and there are so many things I said that I wish I could take back. But that's the things with words, once they are out in the open they can't be erased. Not being pulled along with the peer pressure can be incredibly hard, but I wish I had resisted. It's much better to be remembered for the nice things you said than the one really shitty remark you made.

7. Some friends come and go, but some friendships are for life.

During High School I was in many, many friendship groups. They were all incredibly tight knitted, and we all honestly believe we would be inseperable until the end of time. Alas, we all know that not to be true. Friendships end for many different reasons. Some explode and some just fizzle out. At the time, it hurts. You wonder what went wrong? How could such a good friendship turn into nothing? I've learnt that it's an inevitable part of life, something that we can't fight. However, there are the few friends that are still there, 11 years on. They have been there through everything and remain being the some of the most supportive forces in your life. It makes all the failed friendships worth it. And anyway, they have to stay your friends...because they know too much!