2017. My graduation year and the year I become a legal adult. It's the year I potentially leave home. What a terrifying year.

This year is both exciting and absolutely terrifying. Up until this year, I've been at home, surrounded by the same friends I've had since 7th grade and I've almost always had someone to guide me on my way and help me make choices. Beginning this year, I will be expected to make my own choices. I won't always have someone there for me. To top it all off, my friends and I are going to be separated and spread out across the country.

I'm going to have to make new friends and I'm going to have experiences with new people.

Right now I don't know exactly what I'm doing after I graduate. I may be staying in state or I might be moving across the country. I don't know if I'm going to school right away or jumping into the real world. All I know is that this is the first time I have to make a major decision on my own and I can't put it off anymore.

But I don't want to keep worrying about that decision. This year my only New Years Resolution is to have fun. I know life is short and anything can happen, so I want to make the most of whatever time I have on earth, and as an adult that option is more readily available.

This year I want to experience new things and not worry about the little things.

I want to learn to be independent and not be afraid to be alone.

I want to make mistakes and learn new things.

I want 18 to be the age I'm nostalgic about.

I also want my friends to have these same experiences. I want them to have fun and I want them to love life.

I want my friends to know that one year from now, no matter where we are in the world and no matter if we've found new friends or not, that they helped shape my teenage years and will always have a special place in my heart.

No matter how you feel about 2017, we can all agree it's already better than 2016.

So here's to 2017.