I recently went back to a Friday night high school football game, and so many memories came flooding back to me. Memories that are so amazing, and memories that I wish I could have changed. The one thing I wish I would have changed more than anything? Taking that time for granted.

High school is such an important time in any person's life. It is a time where you begin to shape who you are going to be for the rest of your life. A time where you are going to make the best of memories and the worst of memories. I didn't think that anything happening during this time would matter, I didn't think that anything going on would affect me in the future.

When I was in high school, I was a cheerleader, in theater, choir and on my church's worship team. I took all of this for granted. I never took a second to step back and think about life. I just went through the motions of life. I went onto the field under the bright stadium lights every single Friday and complained about my night being taken by something I thought I didn't care about. I stood on stage running through my lines without realizing that I was going to miss that someday.

When I went back to this football game, I realized how much I truly did miss all of it. It almost brought me to tears the moment that the band first sounded. The moment the cheerleaders stepped foot on to the field, I could no longer hold it back. I began to cry and regret my last year of high school. I wished more than anything that I could go back and try again. I wished I could go back and cheer my heart out. I wished that I could go back and shine on stage.

Seniors, I leave you with this. Whatever you are doing right now, this very moment. Do it with your whole heart. Put everything you have into it. Lay everything out on the table, because, as much as you don't believe me, you are going to miss this. You are going to go on in life and start college, go into the work force or even maybe join the military. You are going to miss these moments. Take advantage of them now. Go to prom. Go on dates. Study for your tests. Audition for that role. Be yourself and shine bright, my dear. The world is rooting for you.