Dear Graduates,

First off, congratulations. Not only have you accomplished a feat so vast that it literally takes thirteen years to complete, but you survived. Dare I say, you thrived. You are off to bigger and better things, and I cannot wait to see where the world takes you.

These next few months are going to be a whirlwind. You'll be caught up in grad parties, summer plans, and soon enough it'll all be over. Take advantage of the time you have left at home. It's the last guaranteed time to have all your people in one place. Love them, appreciate them, and let it be known that you're thankful for them. College is going to change a lot of things, and you'll regret it if you don't. People are right when they say this is the best time of your life, so make sure to enjoy it. Don't sweat the small stuff, and don't stress the big changes coming. Enjoy what you have while you've got it; you can deal with the rest later.

You're about to do some major growing. You'll be facing new challenges, in a new environment, with new people. It's going to take some getting used to, and that's okay. Everyone needs to do a little soul searching every once and a while; college just forces it upon you a little. I won't lie, it's going to be scary and stressful. But, you'll get through it. If you can survive the hell that is awkward teenage high school years, you can survive anything.

These next few years are when you can really take the time to figure out who you are. Change your style, change it again. Pick up a new hobby, go out of your comfort zone. This is the time for you to make mistakes, over and over. In a way, the best way to learn what works is to figure out what else doesn't. Believe me, you're going to make many wrong turns, and that's okay. You'll never know what your true path is if you don't try out a few others along the way.

When life presents new things for you, don't turn it away. Embrace everything with open arms: every new experience, every new person, every new lesson. You'll be so much better off. Be the person who says "Yes" to all opportunities. Play it smart, but don't always play it safe. Sometimes the biggest risks are the ones that pay off the most.

Cherish your families, your home. Pet your dog, take a walk, sit in your yard and watch the sun rise. Take advantage of what is familiar, and appreciate it, because soon it will all be replaced. That being said, don't worry when the time comes to move on. Go out there, and show the world what you can do. Grad: You're just getting started.