My perfect best friend,

Today is the day that you have been dreaming about since you were a little girl: the day that you graduate from high school. Do you remember being in elementary school and thinking that this day was forever away? In the blink of an eye, the day has come for you to bring one chapter of your life to a close and to open the door to the next adventure. There are a few things I want you to think about as this new journey of your life takes place coming from someone who was in your place two years ago.

Remember to keep God first.

The time of transition is one of the hardest parts of life. The end of high school and the start of your college years is one of the biggest transitions you will ever go through. I am not going to lie, we both know that change is hard, but there is one person who will forever be a constant: God. Do not life this time of change take you away from the one who loves you more than anyone or anything. God has got big plans for you, so make sure you trust him and keep him first in your life.

Let your mom fuss over you.

Trust me, your mom is going to be a hot mess today. Her baby is growing up and it is just as hard on her as it is on you. Just let her take your picture for the millionth time and fuss over your dress. You will miss those moments, so just let her take care of you.

Grow, but do not lose yourself in the process.

This is the time of your life that you will grow as a person more than ever. Let yourself grow. Let yourself experience new things. Let yourself learn. It is okay to change, but you have to make sure that you stay true to yourself. It is important to keep your morals and values as you start on this time of growth. Make sure you do not lose yourself in the process of growing up.

Do not be afraid of failure.

I know you, so I know you are a perfectionist just like me. I just want to let you know, it is okay to fail. It is okay to make mistakes. It is a part of growing. You might not get perfect grades. You might not get that internship you applied for. You might not be able to be a part of the organization you want to join. Guess what? That is all okay. Sometimes one door closes so that a better door will open.

Take risks.

Some of my best college memories happened when I stepped out of my comfort zone. Life is boring when you play it safe. Take risks and like I said before, do not be afraid of failure. I know it can be scary at times, but I promise you will be the happiest when you decide to step out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself to do something different.

Have fun!

These are the best years of your life, so enjoy it while you can! It is imperative that you live life in the moment. Do not think of your past and do not stress about your future. You will have more fun if you make it a priority to live in the moment and enjoy what is happening in the present.

Love forever,

Your best friend.