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A woman smiles in her graduation cap and gown.
A woman smiles in her graduation cap and gown.
Photo by Chichi Onyekanne from Unsplash
Lasell | Life > Experiences

Things I’ve Learned Since Graduating High School

Olivia Post Student Contributor, Lasell University
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Lasell chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

It’s crazy to think that my first year of college is almost over. Even crazier, that it has nearly been a year since I graduated high school. My life has changed tremendously since I received my diploma and turned the tassel on my cap. Being in college has taught me a lot about adulthood and real life. I’ve learned some valuable life lessons in seven months and would like to share them in this article. 

  1. It is okay for people to go their separate ways:

Obviously, everyone attending different colleges and having other post-graduation plans means not everyone stays in contact. I grew up in a small town, and most of the people I graduated with had been my classmates my entire life, so the idea of not interacting with them anymore was strange. I was holding on to some relationships with people that weren’t as strong as the ones I have with my true friends.  I have learned to let go of these relationships in order to make room for the ones I will make in college. And I’m glad I did because I have met some incredible people since coming to Lasell. 

  1. Setting boundaries is important:

Unfortunately, I learned this lesson the hard way. There were a couple of instances where me and my roommates’ boundaries had been disrespected by our, now, ex-roommate. It was frustrating and invalidating whenever this would happen. Now, I have learned how important it is to set and maintain boundaries to protect my peace. 

  1. Draining myself is not sustainable:

In high school, I was involved in countless activities on top of being an AP/Honors student. From student government to a brief stint on the track team, I tried to do it all. While my hard work in high school paid off, and I continue to get involved on campus, I’ve learned that burning myself out is not healthy. I burnt out during the pandemic my sophomore year and struggled with senioritis the second semester of my senior year. Exhausting myself and burning the candle at both ends isn’t healthy. Now, I am working on knowing when to close my laptop and take care of myself. 

  1. My well-being comes first:

I will be completely honest, this is still an ongoing lesson for me. I tend to prioritize the needs of others and take on their burdens because I care deeply about the people I love. While I want to do whatever I can to help and support them, there are times when my well-being comes first. These are not selfish acts, but rather selfless ones. I cannot be my best self if I’m emotionally drained, and that is something I’m working on in therapy.

Olivia Post

Lasell '26

Olivia Post is the President of the Her Campus at Lasell chapter. She oversees all matters relating to the chapter, from editorial content to on-campus events.
Beyond Her Campus, Olivia is a student ambassador and a member of the Leadership Team for the Blue Key Society at Lasell. She is a Peer Tutor with the Lasell Academic Achievement Center. Olivia is also a Peer Response team member for Project LASER (Lasell Assault and Abuse Education Response), which seeks to combat domestic and sexual violence on college campuses through education, resources, and trainings
She is currently a senior at Lasell University, studying Secondary Education and English with a minor in Spanish, and is beginning her M.Ed. in Curriculum, Inclusion, and Leadership with a focus on bilingual education.
In her free time, Olivia enjoys reading, playing video games, and spending time with her friends. She can also be found working on her latest crochet project, or watching Bones with her roommate.