Dear graduating seniors,

The day you thought would never arrive is finally here. Maybe you have been the one who couldn't wait to graduate. Who couldn't wait to go to college and start over. To make new friends, to pursue your dreams, continue your life, and explore your passions. But, as you stand here looking back on the mountain of finals, stress, APs, SATs, proms, homecomings, and pep rallies that was high school, you may begin realizing that, at some point, you'll miss it. But, for now, you're excited. But, there will always be parts of it you'll miss.

You'll miss your friends who were always there for you. Who supported you through APs and struggled with you through calculus. You'll miss the teachers who taught you so much about life. Who helped you discover true passions, and who helped rediscover old loves. You'll miss the fun you had.The familiar hallways where you no longer get lost. You'll miss laughing at the rules the administration made that you refused to follow because of their stupidity and your own, the people, and the memories. You'll miss everything it means.

Because high school means comfort, despite the fact it never felt like home. The familiarity and structure of it all is comforting. You always knew what was expected, where to go, and what to do. And once you walk that stage, you'll no longer have that. It will never be the same.

You'll miss high school because graduating means leaving. It means leaving the people you have spent so many years surrounded by, whether good or bad. It means changing your routine that has been set for 13 years. It means no longer being able to text or call my friends to ask what the homework was, or how to do that one question, or if they want to go on a coffee date or impromptu trip to the library or Panera. It means becoming a freshman again, lost and confused, with no familiar faces in sight. It means saying goodbye to friends. But, leaving also means happiness and joy.

It means finally seeing your hard work pay off. It means pursuing your dreams and becoming who God has called you to be. It means having new, unimaginably amazing experiences. It means making new friendships, and seeing old ones grow. It means living.

So, to the graduating seniors, good luck. Good luck in whatever your future holds. Allow your experiences and time spent in high school to be carried with you throughout your lives. Remember the positives. Allow the negatives to change and impact you. Never forget the friendships you had and the memories you made.

As you move on with your life, don't forget your past, but build yourself an amazing future. Build yourself a future that, when you look back in 50 years, will make you smile. Be kind to anyone and everyone you encounter. Leave a mark in the world so bright that when others see it they'll remember your beautiful spirit and unbridled joy. Pursue your dreams. Fulfill your purpose.

Know that you are loved, and that you matter. Know that God's got an unfathomable purpose for you. Know that who you were in high school is not who you have to be. Understand that leaving high school does not mean your life is ending, it means it's just beginning.

Today was filled with many lasts. The last time you opened your locker. The last time you saw your favorite teacher or your best friend. The last time you walked through that hall or passed by that classroom. The last time you walked your best friend to class while laughing about the annoying freshman and complaining about that teacher. The last time you hung out in your favorite teacher's classroom. The last day you sat and laughed with some of your best friends. The last day of your 13 year long school career.

But, the future is filled with so many firsts. Your first day of college. Your first class that's so stressful you'll want to cry. Your first class that you'll fall so much in love with you'll wish it will never end. Your first time leaving home and really being on your own. Your first real all-nighter. Your first love. Your first time you won't be able to call your mom for every little thing. Your first new best friend. Your first career. Your first child. It's the start of the rest of your life. A life filled with so many wonderful moments, both good and bad. Embrace this change, but never forget the memories you have made.

So, to the graduating seniors, good luck. I'm proud of you, and I sincerely wish you all the best. I hope you fulfill all your dreams.

Love,

A former curious, wondering, excited, and terrified graduating senior