Dear High school friends,

It's already been one full year since we graduated, can you believe it? I surely can't. Everything this year has been different—weird different, but definitely good different. Some of us went so far away to college while others stayed close to home for school, and some of us even decided to start full-time jobs. It's crazy to look back at where we were just one year ago and where we are now because the change is pretty dramatic, but I'm sure we can all agree that some way, somehow, this past year has been one of the best years of our lives.

When I look back on my high school years, I have so many memories and so many laughs. As friends, we were there for each other when we were at our lowest points, when we needed the most encouragement and at the same time we were there to cheer each other on and celebrate when we were victorious, and I can't thank you enough for being my friends through it all.

We spent four very important years of our lives together. We entered high school as young freshmen who had no care in the world and throughout the years, we found each other and built friendships that truly became part of who we were. Not only did we have good times together, we made huge decisions together and in some cases cried together, but we could do this because we relied on each other and, most importantly, trusted each other.

I know not everyone had a perfect high school experience and that's okay. High school is a time to figure out who you are and grow as a person. Sometimes it's tough but at the end of the day, your own individual experiences are what make you who you are. Those tough times have made you strong and those fun times have taught you how to laugh, love and remain young at heart. So regardless of if you look at your high school experience as perfect or if you see it has the worst four years of your life, please grow from those four years and make them fuel who you want to be as a person because now is the time to be who you truly want to be.

So in the end, I want to say to all of my friends that regardless of what you have done after high school, I am so proud of you. Everyone is free to explore what they feel passionate about and that is my only wish for each and every one of you. Never try to be someone you aren't and always, I mean always, be true to yourself. Never let anyone talk you out of your dreams and if you love something, go for it and don't let anyone stop you. It's your life now. Take control of it, embrace it and make it everything you've ever dreamed of.

Years from now if you see someone you used to be friends with, never be afraid of a simple "Hi, how are you?" because when it comes down to it, you two have shared more than you might remember. Thanks for being my friends, and, as cliche as it sounds, thanks for accepting me as I was and as I am. You all have given me little lessons or memories that have all become a part of me and you will always have a friend in me.