Many students look back at their younger selves who may have had their morals and priorities confused as they put popularity and fitting in before happiness. 

Growing up can be challenging, but as we mature and become older, more respected individuals, we often regret our past thoughts, mistakes or even our overall outlook on life.

While experiencing life, we learn many important lessons and make lifelong relationships that we may or may not have even imagined at a young age.

Among all the diversity of people in the world, one thing remains the same. People can be damaged, they can laugh, cry and show abundance of emotions. Yet what happens to people when they are tested, when life throws its punches and gets harder than it has ever been? With that stated, what would you tell your past self in order to better prepare them for the life ahead of them?

Many teachers and students at Milford High School can reflect back on their lives and offer advice to themselves after going through tough times.

A teacher at Milford High School who wishes to remain anonymous described moving out of her parents home before senior year, which was one of the hardest things she has ever done.

This was an emotional choice which she does not regret. 

“I learned a lot during the experience about myself and that was the year I found myself,” she said. This teacher, although young, describes herself as successful.

“I have my own place and positive relationships and people in my life.”

She says if she had to tell her younger self one thing that would be “stop trying to appease everyone else and do what you feel is important and what is right.”

Another teacher at MHS believes that dealing with loss is the hardest part of life.

Rob Hamilton, an English teacher, describes the tragic event of losing his best friend’s dad, who died of cancer. He also had a teammate killed in a car accident just after high school and 3 grandparents pass away.  

“Grieve with the people you care about,” Hamilton said. “It’s not easy, but it’s going to hurt no matter what and you have to deal with the pain and make best of awful situation.”

If Hamilton could tell his younger self something he would say to spend time with others who you care about who may not have time on their side.

Although students have less life experiences, many still can offer strong advice after going through adversity.

 Haley Cline, a freshman at Milford High School,has dealt with an issue ever since she was young–kidney complications.

“I basically spent my childhood in the hospital. I didn’t know if I was going to make it.”

After medication switches and multiple surgeries, Haley still continues to deal with this issue, yet as she says this experience has made her “outlook on life” more serious and she is thankful for her family who supported her through everything.

If Cline were able to to tell herself one thing she would say, “do not worry, you will get through this and you are stronger than you think.”

Sometimes even the little things in life can be frustrating.

A freshman boy who wishes to remain anonymous describes his biggest insecurity as being short. Although he has dealt with taunting and bullying about his height for years, he says, “I just learned to laugh about it because if my height is the worst thing about me than I am a pretty dang good person.”

If he were to tell his younger self one thing he would say, “Do not care about what other people say, and if someone makes fun of you for being short, kick them in the shins and run.”

Life can be difficult, but many Milford High School students and staff and been through tough situations and have come out stronger after them. Take what you will with these situations and think about what your future self would have wanted because regret is one of the worst burdens to deal with.