Recently, I had the privilege of speaking at a local school about critically consuming news.

When I wasn’t talking, I found my mind wandering.

I looked around the room and I realised my time sitting where the students were, pretending to listen to boring presenters and dreaming of lunchtime, was only two years ago.

It feels like a lifetime.

As exam season approaches once again, I find myself thinking about ‘2022 Djembe’ and how far removed I feel from that person.

I can’t go back and tell her what to do or how to feel, but I do have a column where I can say what I want.

So here’s what I want to tell Year 12 me.

I hate to break it to you, but you kind of suck.

You’re going to lose a lot of your friends, some because you haven’t learnt to be a good friend, others because you made mistakes and hurt them.

Some of them just drifted away.

You’ll be surprised who you do keep in contact with — keep them close.

On a separate note, please just stop worrying. I mean it.

You get so caught up in the bubble of high school that things seem so deep. I promise they are not.

Leaving high school is like a breath of fresh air. Everything turns out fine.

Make more mistakes. Say that thing to that person, completely ruin that assignment, don’t worry about the repercussions.

Throw caution to the wind.

Be nicer.

I know it’s easier to be mean, but it feels so much better to be nice.

Stop worrying about the future.

I know you don’t know what to do and the concept of ‘life after high school’ is foreign and terrifying.

But I promise everything works out.

I know you’re going through a break-up this year and everything feels like it’s going to end.

It’s okay you feel that way, but it will be fine.

You find someone new, and he loves you more than you ever thought possible.

Also, spend more time with your family.

I know you’re tired, and it’s so easy to lay in bed and scroll through TikTok, but your family is more meaningful than anything on that screen.

Good luck, I love you, I’ll be here on the other side.

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Saturday, 22nd February 2025

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