I know what you are thinking, and how you are feeling, graduating class of 2017. It appears June cannot come quick enough, and that the days are dragging by as you drag yourself through the once scary and intimidating hallways of your beloved high school. Instead of living for the future, spring of senior year is all about living in the moment. As I write this blog post I am preparing for my second semester of freshman year in college. I can honestly say college has changed my entire view on life, but I will never forget the valuable lessons high school taught me.

High school is a very interesting thing. I've seen it be the best four years of people's lives, but also the worst. Some never come out of their shells and others peak. Boys will date an unspeakable number of girls, while some girls will never have a boyfriend. Kids will test out of entry-level classes and into higher ones while others will flunk out. It is a beautiful and confusing system to say the very least. There is no other time in your life quite like it. Much like Graduation Day. As many students look at Graduation Day as their chance to "Pass Go and collect $200, so they can "move on," or go on to "bigger and better things," I believe we must take a deeper look at what we've been through together. Graduation is a turning point that is bittersweet for high school seniors; it signifies exciting new beginnings, but also immense, and often scary, change. Many of the people you are used to seeing every day at your high school—teachers, administrators, classmates, etc.— are people you might not see again. Therefore, there is no better time to start spending more quality time with those who matter to you. This may include going to social events, such as end-of-year celebrations, award ceremonies, and graduation get-togethers. It may include going to more club meetings, participating in volunteer activities, enjoying yourself at the last prom, or attending your school’s sports games. You didn't audition for the school play. You didn't try out for that intramural team. You made excuses to yourself about how you didn't have time to take on another extracurricular or about how your hand-eye coordination isn't good enough to bust a move on-stage. Here is the thing, venturing outside your comfort zone is what high school is for. You never know unless you try.

There are these posts out there in the world of social media about how people regret how they spent their senior year, and what they wish they knew beforehand. I am here to tell you that no matter how you choose to spend your senior year, it is a year you will remember for a very long time. You should not look back and wish you did things differently or regret how you spent your last year with people you’ve known since kindergarten and those awkward middle school days. Second semester of senior year holds some of the best memories you will ever make in your entire life, and at the end of the day it is all about who you surround yourself with. Throughout life you will lose contact with certain people that you once could not imagine life without, and unfortunately it is inevitable that friendships will end. With that said, it is even more important to cherish those friendships while you can and learn from them. I promise you, college makes you look back on high school quite a bit, or at least, the people do. I came to appreciate my high school and all those in it, just from talking to a few people. Too often, students are so eager for the future that they overlook the present. You cannot live in the future when the present is happening right in front of your eyes. Therefore, I urge you, if you're a senior that is taking on your second semester and final semester of high school, make it whatever you want it to be.