Dear Big Kid On The Block,

Isn’t it crazy to think that just three and a half years ago you were leaving middle school? You didn’t know your way around the high school hallways, but you were eager to say goodbye to those awkward middle school years. You walked into the unfamiliar doors on your first day of high school, mesmerized at the seniors and how they claimed their territory. You thought wow, I don’t know if I’ll ever find my way around this place. But, you did. You joined various clubs and sports teams, you survived physics and trigonometry. You did things you once believed were impossible. Now, with less than four months until prom, graduation, and your final summer before college, that senior territory is now yours. You are the big kid on the block, the one that the freshmen look up to. You are the person you idolized three and a half years ago.

I know, it’s scary. You’re nervous for the future while trying to enjoy your senior year. You’re not sure if you’re ready to leave your friends, your clubs, and your sports behind. This is normal, and it’s going to be OK. Actually, it will be more than OK; it’s going to be amazing. As much as you have grown throughout high school, I want you to know you’ll flourish even more in college. You are going to join extracurriculars that you may not have had the time to do in high school. You are going to meet some of the most amazing and inspiring people in the world. And, most important for you to know right now, your friends from home will always be there when you get back. Don’t be afraid of the future; embrace it.

But if I’ve learned anything as I’ve grown up, it is to live in the moment. For you, walking through those doors as a freshman seems like yesterday, and for me, walking at high school graduation feels like yesterday. We get so caught up in worrying about and preparing for the future that sometimes we forget to live in the moment. Enjoy your senior year. Work hard in school, but have fun. That one math test will not define you, but how you treat your classmates will. Be kind and cherish every moment. These next few months will be the last time you see many people from the class of 2016, so be extra nice and take a second to talk to each of them about the little things; people will surprise you.

In the midst of senior year festivities, remember one thing: your family. Don’t forget about your mom, who is just as nervous as you are at this time. She’s so incredibly proud of you, but she’s also trying to cherish every moment of this year, so don’t get mad when she forces you and your friends to take what feels like a million pictures. Don’t forget about your dad, whose little girl is growing up; he’ll miss you more than you know. Perhaps most important, don’t forget about your siblings. This will be the first time you guys are apart, and you won’t realize how much you’re really going to miss them. It’s okay to fight, I mean isn’t that what siblings are for? But take a moment and think about how you’ll miss those petty fights, and make sure they always end in a laugh.

Finally, the big day will come. Graduation day will seem like both the most exciting and scariest day of your life; take it all in. Enjoy your last day of high school. When you walk at graduation and your classmates, family, and friends cheer you on, appreciate it. When you start to get teary-eyed as your class president makes a speech, know that it’s OK to feel nostalgic. When you walk off of that football field and you are finally an alumnus, be proud. Be proud of your accomplishments, and be excited for what is to come. Enjoy the time with your classmates, for this will be the last time you are with the entire class of 2016. This will be the last time you can call yourself a high school student. This is it. Cherish the moment, live in the now. Before you know it, these moments will just be memories.

Sincerely,

A College Student