Nap time, recess, dress up days, ABC songs.

Overalls, senior pictures, cap and gown, grad parties.

In the blink of an eye, 12 years have passed.

One moment, we are kindergarteners, too scared to let go of our mom’s hand and too nervous to make friends for the first time. The next, we are about to step out into the world, ready to tackle life on our own.

But within those 12 years, we are so busy growing up and becoming young adults that we forget to take our time and freeze the moment to appreciate what we have before it is too late. And as a senior glancing back at my past, let me pass onto you the top 10 things that I wish I had held onto a little tighter and a little longer while I could.

1. Join an organization and find something you enjoy.

Coppell High School is full of opportunities and there is a place for everyone. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone to try something new. You will get out of it as much as you put in, so puff up your chest, put on a smile, and put yourself out there. You will find a home.

2. Do not drown yourself in stress or worries. It will be OK in the end.

You are going to experience pressure from all around you and stress on all levels, but once in awhile, take a step back and let yourself breathe. Tackle the pressure one step at a time but remember you are human. Relax.

3. Find positivity and make the most out of each day you are at CHS.

The key to a good day is maintaining a positive mindset. Smile, give yourself a pat on the back and remember to count the blessings in each day. The only difference between an obstacle and an opportunity is your attitude.

4. Have fun and gain experience, but be mindful of who you surround yourself with.

While high school is a time to try new things and learn new lessons, you won’t get a second chance once you fall in. To put it directly, people all around you, beyond the boundary of CHS, smoke, drink and do drugs. Don’t put yourself in a situation or surround yourself with people who will lead you to make poor decisions.

5. Spend time with your family.

If you have a family, you are blessed. And most of us spend our whole lives with our families that we don’t realize how little time we have left to spend with them before the big day. So through good and bad times, appreciate all the things they do for you, even the little things, and never take them for granted.

6. Big or small, strive to fill someone’s bucket each day.

Hold the door for someone, wave hi in the hallway. You never know how big of an impact that one smile or that one wave can do for a person. Fill someone’s bucket and radiate positive energy and joy everywhere you go.

7. Work hard in school and stop trying to find the easy way out.

There are always “easier routes” and there are always people who will go that way. However, honesty and integrity is far more important than your grades will ever be. At CHS, cheating has become a large epidemic, but do not fall into conformity. Stay true to yourself and to that character, because it’s rare to find nowadays.

8. Appreciate your teachers; they are working hard too.

We complain a lot. Many of our teachers don’t care about our grades, are too strict, assign too much homework; the list goes on and on. But what we as students fail to realize is that they are human too. They make mistakes and they are not perfect, but they are trying. If it wasn’t for these teachers, education would not function the same, so appreciate them and say thank you.

9. Find what you are passionate about. Don’t chase money, chase that passion.

We grow up in an environment that tells us money or wealth is what defines success. What we choose to do in the future, what the motive behind our work is now, all of it wraps around money. But here’s the reality: money does not make you successful. Close your heart to what the world says, find the thing you love to do and pursue it – the other things will fall into place in time.

10. Your grades are important, but remember you are more than a number.

We are raised to place school and grades at the highest priority. Social life and sleep are willingly sacrificed as a number on naviance is sought after so eagerly. But let me tell you something, you are more than a number. At CHS, you are a person and sometimes we get so caught up in getting a number that we let ourselves become one. Don’t get me wrong, grades are important, but they are not everything.

And they are not you.

While each of us are different people, I’ve realized that we end up learning the same lessons in the end. Do not walk on the same path as every other student. Keep your head high and fix your eyes on things beyond materialistic measures. Don’t live in time, live in moments, because before you know it, your time will be out.