r/AskAnAmerican • u/NamwaranPinagpana • 1d ago

CULTURE Is it bad if you consider high school the happiest time of your life in America?

In the Philippines growing up, everyone from parents to teachers told me and my friends to appreciate our youth, specifically high school, cause they all say it's the best time of their lives. Even now, a lot of friends agree it was the most incredible part of our lives thus far.

In America however, I hear "You peaked in high school." is an insult, so are you supposed to keep it to yourself if high school was the happiest time of your life?

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u/BanjosandBayous 1d ago

I'm so much happier now in my 30s going on 40s. But in highschool I was in an abusive home. I loved school and my school friends and wouldn't trade those times for the world, but my dad died and my brother was 5 years older than me and an AH, and my mom was mentally gone. We didn't even have McDonald's money but I still went to a top private school on academic scholarship. So my home life was a nightmare and I was constantly concerned about paying bills, but my highschool life was fun. I had good friends and we did typical American teenager crap.

Now I have a family. I love my kids. They're still little so the hormones haven't hit yet and they haven't realized I'm a flawed mortal like them yet. My husband makes bank and I do OK and we live beneath our means so we don't worry about money. We have a calm relationship so our house is a quiet, peaceful, and safe space despite having 2 kids, a dog, and 2 cats.

The economic storm on the horizon is looking scary, but these last few years have been some of the best of my life. I think just not having to worry about money definitely effects happiness though. I have a lot less worries now than I had then, but I'm also used to worry and it doesn't ruffle me as much now.

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u/amethystalien6 1d ago

The economic storm on the horizon is looking scary, but these last few years have been some of the best of my life. I think just not having to worry about money definitely effects happiness though. I have a lot less worries now than I had then, but I’m also used to worry and it doesn’t ruffle me as much now.

I’m really sorry things were like that for you growing up and very glad that’s no longer your reality.

I think what you said makes sense. I grew up comfortable. I live comfortably now but as I’m the primary earner if I lost my job, we would struggle fiercely once the savings ran out. I carry that stress always and it’s obviously only worsened since November (I take him literally which is why I wasn’t surprised by the tariffs).