The controversy surrounding Brett Kavanaugh’s Senate hearing make one thing clear: even the smallest incident can leave a mark.

Whether we like it or not, our performance in high school can have a significant influence on our career, our relationships, and our reputation.

It is up to students to ensure that their period in high school is helpful to them. Students have responsibility over their actions, illegal or legal, and over any consequences that come as a result of bad decisions.

There is no way to know if something that you did during high school can affect you, so it’s wise for students to be careful and evaluate their core values and aspirations.

Whether it be intentional or not, your time in high school will leave a persisting mark that invokes both positive and negative ramifications upon your future.

While hard work in the classroom can bring about a bright future, irresponsible decisions made outside of school can have the complete opposite effect.

The idea that the social choices you make in high school have an effect on your GPA and academic prosperity is indisputable, but these decisions can also influence your reputation.

What may appear as taking part in typical high school culture could also be a deal-breaker for college or job acceptance.

Committing illegal activities can detract upon your future, and simply wanting to “try” alcohol or narcotics is not a sufficient excuse when these acts are ultimately exposed.

Sometimes, colleges track student activity on social media. This means that all conversations, all posts, and all photos can be a measure of your personal integrity.

Your permanent record can be affected by all of these factors.

There are many ways to ensure that your time in high school is constructive. The obvious is trying to get good grades, contribute to school programs, and volunteer in your community. But above all, it is about setting a precedent for your future.

During times of stress, rather than keeping it inside or taking out in destructive ways, consider asking advice from trusted adults, such as school counselors or therapists.  

High school should be a period that should be marked with happy moments. But after high school, when students enter the real world, they won’t necessarily be under the protection of their teachers and parents.

Since even misdemeanors can find themselves on a permanent record, a moment of “exercising your youth” is not worth distorting a bright future.