Dear high school graduate,

A special congrats from someone who also has just walked across the stage. With receiving your diploma, I’m sure you also received a little something extra: panic. At this point we will all have to learn how to “adult,” considering we actually have no idea how that works just yet. The many years we spent in high school preparing for today has led us to this very moment, and we realize we actually do not have any clue what our future holds.

Whether it be in the next couple of days or couple of months, we recent high school grads will be spreading our wings and saying goodbye to our childhoods. You will be responsible for providing for yourself, which may be something completely new (as it is for me), and you will also either be diving into the workforce or attending your college courses, or possibly both. All of this can be extremely overwhelming. I think it is terrifying because we are finally realizing that we don't know who we actually are.

"We realized that the titles we thought defined us actually were just that: titles."

The second we walked off that stage, we were no longer in high school. We weren’t the all-star athlete, the straight-A student, the president of our class or the teacher's pet. We realized that the titles we thought defined us actually were just that: titles. All of our hard work to create this facade, which was our reputation, is now merely a memory. You are not alone in this dumbstruck feeling of wondering who you are. In fact, most of the population does not feel they know who they are.

I choose to believe that we are more than the actions in which we partake, but the thought process and work it takes to succeed in those actions. So you may no longer be the all-star athlete, the straight-A student, the president of your class or the teacher's pet; but you are the hard work and dedication it took to achieve those titles. But like all other traits, they need to be often watered like a flower or they will die off. But the beauty of life is it is never too late to start over.

Whether you were satisfied with your high school experience or not doesn't matter. We are now both burned and privileged to have the opportunity to become something, or someone, entirely different. To become new versions of who we are. Yes, the pressure is on for the class of 2016 as they step out into the “real world.” Time will only tell what you have in store but stand strong and never be afraid to start over. Best of wishes, graduate, and God bless.

Sincerely,

A fellow high school grad