Tomorrow, I will walk across the stage (hopefully without falling), and officially become a high school graduate. I am in disbelief that the day that I have been counting down to since freshman year is almost here. I feel like just yesterday I was entering my high school for the first time.

Growing up, people constantly tell you how quickly time flies by. They tell you that before you know it, you will be an adult. They tell you to enjoy being a kid as long as you can. If you are like me, those comments probably went in one ear and out the other. Next time someone tells you to cherish these times of your life, stop and listen to them. Trust me, they are telling you the truth. Four years go by quicker than you think, and as you get older, life passes by faster and faster.

Throughout my past four years in high school I learned a lot. Whether it be information from a textbook, or valuable life lessons learned from experiences, high school has taught me so many important things. Each and every single experience, both good and bad, shaped me into who I am today.

If I could go back to my first day of high school and tell myself the things I know now, I would:

1. I know that you are probably worried about what people are going to think you. I know you cannot stand the thought of sitting alone in the lunch room. I know that all of these concerns feel like life or death to you right now. However, believe me, there is so much more to life than worrying about what others think of you. Trying to change yourself to be ‘popular’ is not worth it, trying to be someone you aren’t to fit to society’s standards is ridiculous. You are the way you are for a reason. One day you will realize that it is much more valuable to have a handful of friends that care about you as opposed to a thousand Instagram followers that increase your ego.

2. I know that some days you will not feel like talking to a single soul. But, try with all of your power to agree to that Starbucks date with your friend. Believe me, those chats on the patio hold so much underlying value. You will look back and regret all of the added up time that you wasted, sitting in your room with the door closed. Things change in the blink of an eye. Netflix will always be right where you left it, but people are much more temporary. Please cherish them.

3. Do not underestimate the wisdom that your parents can provide. They have already experienced almost all of the things that you are going through now. They had to deal with their decisions, both good and bad. They already made some mistakes. Allow them to help you avoid making the same ones. Do not take your relationship with your parents for granted. You will meet many people throughout the next four years. Although you may remain close to a few, you are likely to lose a majority of them. You never know how tangible a friendship really is. When your mom and dad ask you if you want to watch that T.V. show (that you have no interest in) again for the fifth day in a row, watch it. It means so much more to them than you think. One day, when you are packing all of your stuff and moving out, you will wish you could go back in time and watch those boring shows again. You will wish that you spent more time with them. So just watch the show now, and spend as much time with them as you can now.

4. Life is unpredictable. A lot of things can change in four years, let alone, a single year. At some points, it may seem like everything is going wrong and you won’t understand why. But just realize, everything happens for a reason. In the end, you will look back and understand each experience a little more than you did before. Whether it taught you a lesson or provided you with a memory, it was meant to happen. One day, you may be thankful for the things you went through. No matter how cliché it may sound, what doesn’t kill you truly does make you stronger.

5. Focus on yourself as much as you can. Time will fly by faster than you realize. Make sure that you constantly push yourself to reach your fullest potential. Do not have the attitude that you can always do something next year. You never know where you will be a year from now. You are lucky enough to get an opportunity once, so don’t take anything for granted. Take risks and step out of your comfort zone. Fall in love or go on an adventure. Stop daydreaming about tomorrow and live in today.

6. My last and final point is for those that have already found their place in high school. Those that may have already found their friend group. Those lucky enough to be considered ‘popular.’ You are lucky, because you have a bigger influence on people than you may think. Now, this influence is not only trend setting but also life-changing. If you see someone sitting by themselves on lunch, go talk to them. Treat them the way that you would want to be treated. If you see someone crying in the hallways, try asking them if they want to talk. Try to be there for them. You never know what someone is going through.

Just taking a few minutes out of your day could change someone’s life forever. During passing, take the opportunity to compliment someone. Don't use being tardy as an excuse, you have enough time to walk to class. Heck, even compliment them while walking. Just that alone could help someone feel better about themselves. Please, try to make a positive impact on everyone you encounter. Smile at strangers and open the door for people when you get the chance. After all, it is the most rewarding feeling to know that you are brightening someone’s day. It is the most rewarding feeling to be a nice, giving and loving human being. Life is too short to be the ‘big bad senior’ and too short to think that you are too good for everyone. Be nice.

I leave you with this:

Believe me, graduation may seem like it is a lifetime away right now. However, one day you will wake up and realize that you are graduating tomorrow. You will realize that you are about to close one door and open another. You will realize that you finally get to celebrate yourself and all of the accomplishments that you have made so far. You will realize that every little thing you worried about, from where you sat at lunch to what you wore that one day at school, do not matter now.

You will be a high school graduate. You will better society just by being you. You will do great things and you will incorporate everything you have learned thus far into the rest of your life. You will be thankful for every experience and you will throw your cap and walk across that stage with pride. You will then understand how amazing you really were this whole entire time, just by being yourself.