It’s been 3 long years since I graduated from high school. I don’t have any regrets because everything I have done has gotten me to where I am today, but if I could go back to that day and tell my past self a few things I know I would. To the seniors graduating this year, take a minute to read over this list some of these may just apply to you too.

1. Congratulations, today is your day! You’ve made it through what, until this point, has been the most difficult part of your life, but hold on it’s about to get tricky.
2. Enjoy the summer with your high school friends, most of them will change when they go off to college and even if they don’t, no telling when you will see them again.
3. Cherish the summer with your family! I know you’re so ready to be out on your own but you’ll realize they mean so so much more to you than you ever imagined.
4. Live a little! Don’t be so stuffy! Get into trouble a time or two, you don’t have to be perfect to be loved.
5. Sit down and truly think about what you want to do and where you want to go, don’t make such impulsive decisions based on emotions.
6. Breathe. I’m just going to be honest, your first job…it sucks, but let it teach you something. You’ll have plenty more throughout the next few years and I promise you, for the most part, love them. Here and now isn’t the rest of your life.
7. Try not to give so much to people who give you so little.
8. Be prepared for sadness and heartbreak. It’ll happen, more than once, but I am here to tell you it gets better. I know every time feels like the worst time, but it’s not.
9. Get out! Make new friends, see new sights, try new things. The world is your oyster! 99% of the time you’ll get out of anything exactly what you put into it. If you try to make new friends, you will. Don’t be ashamed of failures, it’s what makes us who we are.
10. BELIEVE YOU ARE MORE THAN YOUR COLLEGE GPA. I know you are a perfectionist, and I know high school was a breeze. College isn’t though. It’s actually really hard. Making a C in a class that you gave your all…is okay. Making an A- in a class you didn’t give quite your all…is okay.
11. Cry. If you feel like crying, cry. If you feel like laughing, laugh. Scream if you need to. Never be ashamed of your emotions. You are allowed to feel however you need to feel, but don’t dwell. Every day can’t be the best day, but it also won’t always be the worst day either.
12. Lastly, Believe in yourself! You can truly do anything you set your mind to. When you think things are tough and you can’t make it, say a prayer and call Momma. She’s always there for you.