This summer marks my 10 year reunion of graduating from Springville High School. Go Red Devils! Class of ’08! Class of ’08! Class of ’08!!!

I have really fond and embarrassed memories of high school. It always makes me really sad when people say there’s something wrong with you if you liked high school. I’ve heard things like “if you liked high school then you peaked in high school” and I simply do not agree. I truly enjoyed high school (for the most part) AND it was a great stepping stone to a better, cooler, bigger life.

I loved being a Springville Red Devil. I loved the sports. I loved the mascot. I loved teachers. I loved that my mom was a Red Devil and had many of the same teachers lol. I loved pretty much everything except the parking lot.

In that school I took my first real writing class. On that campus I learned to drive. Around those fields I made some of my dearest, eternal friends while we panted through practice. I (briefly) stole a car and drove it on the track until stopped by one of Springville City’s Finest. I kissed boyfriends and had my heart broken. I wore skinny jeans for the first time. I stood in that parking lot and learned that a close friend would die that day, weeks before we were to graduate. I skipped seminary to get 7-11 hot chocolate, but never missed a 7 am history class. I scribbled homework on a bumpy bus to softball games. We circled our cars for an encore dance party in the rain when the school stomp ended earlier than we liked. I drove my sleepy sister to school every day, singing Fall Out Boy at the top of our lungs on the way home.

I loved it. Though there are so many things I would change, things that make me cringe with embarrassment (I once forgot the words to the National Anthem… standing on home plate… singing into a microphone… before my own softball game), I mostly look back with gratitude, love, and snorting laughter.

I love that little Danica in her cap and gown. I want to just scoop her up. That month was one of the hardest and most intense of her life. She had AP tests and UVU Concurrent Enrollment finals and state testing. She dealt with the fallout of a dramatic prom situation and ostracism from a group of friends she had loved. She had the state softball tournament, crushing losses, and her very last time walking onto a softball diamond with the team she loved so much. She lost a close friend suddenly, tragically. She fought with a best friend, messy and painful. She stayed up late studying, texting a new boyfriend, watching movies with her brother and sister. She felt so lonely. She felt so excited.

Here is what I would tell her.

You are doing a terrific job.

You deserve to be happy and to be proud of yourself.

You’ve worked so hard and you’ve earned this.

Boys ain’t sh*t.

But seriously. Move them to the bottom of your priorities list.

You are allowed to have feelings. Take some time to feel them.

Softball was fun. You’ll love the memories. But you’ll look back and see a lot of things you’re better off without. You won’t miss it as much as you think.

You should be crying a lot more right now. I know you need to. Just let it out.

Drop those PoliSci classes like yesterday. PoliSci majors are the WoooOOOOOOOoooorst.

Talk to your mom and dad. Give them a chance to understand.

You’re trying to be a better sister, but you need to do things differently. Don’t force – just love.

It’s ok to be your own person and go your own way. You don’t have to hang onto the traditions and habits of high school/your family to maintain some kind of consistency.

Facebook is the worst.

Just try to relax. Everything will be ok.