What I Really Learned in High School (Spoiler: It Wasn’t Geometry)

Daily writing prompt

Describe something you learned in high school.

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Let’s be honest. When people talk about what they learned in high school, they usually throw out things like how to solve for X or the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell. Cute. But me? I learned something far more useful:

How to read a room—and own it.

Not in the dramatic, Mean Girls way (though I definitely knew a Regina or two), but in the “I see you trying to trip me up with that fake compliment, Brenda, and I will now smile so hard it could cut glass” kind of way.

High school, for all its hormonal chaos and cafeteria pizza, taught me the art of strategic charm. I learned when to speak up, when to play it cool, and how to wield wit like a sword when someone came for me uninvited. Sure, I didn’t retain much from Chemistry, but I did master the chemical reaction that happens when you walk down the hallway like you own it—even if you tripped on your shoelace two minutes before.

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More than anything, high school taught me that style isn’t just what you wear. It’s how you carry yourself when you’ve just bombed a test, your locker won’t open, and someone you don’t even know told you your outfit was “brave.”

Fast forward to now, and while I’ve mastered everything from contract clauses to catwalks, I still can’t fold a fitted sheet without a minor existential crisis. But I can walk into any room, scan the vibe, and adjust like a pro. That’s not just social survival—that’s confidence, and it started with a teenage model in strappy heels, strutting down the halls, flipping through Vogue between AP classes and somehow balancing calculus with casting calls.

Want to build that kind of confidence without the awkward teenage phase?

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And in case anyone’s wondering: no, I never did use the Pythagorean theorem in real life. But knowing how to hold eye contact while someone tries to gaslight you? Extremely relevant skill.

Dorey Duncan Scott Senior Litigation Paralegal

Hi! I’m Dorey Duncan Scott, a mother of three, wife and fashion entrepreneur. I started my career in fashion back in the early 90’s when I did print, still and runway modeling. I studied Fashion Merchandising, Music Business and Marketing, while also obtaining certificates in such industry-necessary areas such as make-up, styling and runway choreography. In addition, I had work as a spokesmodel for several brands, appearing in print and in person. As a former model, turned senior litigation paralegal, artist manager and on-air personality with a passion for fashion, beauty, and personal development, I bring a unique combination of style, strategic thinking, and legal expertise to my work. My years navigating the legal world have sharpened my attention to detail, while my experience and passion for fashion, beauty, and personal development drives my desire to help others feel empowered and help them in their journey toward self-empowerment. My experience in the fashion world has taught me the power of confidence. 

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