High School Cool

What is it about high school the makes some kids feel cool? Last week I was digging through old photo albums (Remember those, kiddies?) and found so many shots of myself looking like I ruled the world. I don't remember feeling that cool, but I sure do look like I had it all figured out.

Maybe I had just conquered that day. Maybe the universe cooperated with my hair. Maybe I was good at posing. I do remember thinking I was way more woke than my parents. And hard things seemed way simpler before I had experienced any of them.

On the other hand, maybe I was cool. I had some things other high school kids didn't have, earning my life some envy. I'm ashamed to say it, but that made me feel like I was better than them—that I was cooler.

Maybe "cool" is to high school as "respect" is to adulthood. And if you never evolve past cool, you frankly miss the mark in adulthood. (Cute frat boy living in his parents' house, anybody?) You gotta graduate, friends. You gotta move on to new ventures. But even if you don't, I hope I've had enough hard life at this point to realize that we don't all have the same privileges and we don't all get the same luck of the draw. Un-cool does not equal un-valuable.

Unsplash Photo Cred: Ryan Steptoe