Dear High School Graduates,

I want to say congratulations on completing a milestone in your life. I'm sure you felt like it took forever for this moment to come. But, here it is and all your hard work and accomplishments are finally being acknowledged. I know the feeling because I could not wait for graduation. To me, graduating meant I was off to bigger and better things. I could finally get away from the town that I had to spend practically my whole life. I could finally start figuring out who I was and what my purpose was in life.

When the big day finally came, graduation, I was more than ready. When I walked to up to receive my diploma, I could not stop beaming because that moment represented all my hard work over the years. And from that day on, a new chapter in my life would begin. I was ready to spread my wings and soar! I wanted to see who I could be, away from my hometown. It was exciting knowing my whole class had bright futures ahead of them and that we could all come back 10 years later and share our experiences at a reunion.

Graduation was not only a happy moment but also an emotional moment. It was emotional because I realized that this would be the last time my high school's class of 2014 would all be together. The familiar faces, that I had known all these years would be no more. The teachers that had been sweet and kind, sheltering me from the harsh reality of life which is that I will not receive an A on every paper I write. The coaches that made me feel like an all-star. I would be forced out of my element to make new friends which I had not done since Pre-K. I would be forced to accept that the paper I spend hours out, would only result in an B or C. And, I would be expected to practice day and night in order to be competitive at the new level.

What I am trying to tell you, recent and future graduates, is that college will be the best roller coaster of your life. College is a preview into the "real world" so there will be good and bad, and up and downs. And, I will be honest, it will be scary at first. But, once you find your "home" at college, you will love every moment.

The final advice I want to give you is to cherish those moments before you leave for college. Those are precious moments with friends you will not see as often anymore. And family you will only see every other weekend until breaks or the semester ends and that's for those who are fortunate enough to live in close proximity to their hometown.

Change the world! Make it a better place for everyone!

Sincerely,

A Former High School Graduate