You have finally made it to senior year: all eleven plus years of education have been leading up to this year. That feeling is both so extremely exciting and so very terrifying. This year is almost halfway over already, and I guarantee you didn't think it would go by so quickly. From the first day of this year, last sports game, the last time you have to sprint to your locker to get your books for the next class because you spent too much time talking to your friends, to the last day you walk into school as a high school student, so many amazing things will happen. Be open to them, you never know what can happen or what can be brought to you.

If you are one of those people who want to cherish every time you walk back and forth down the hallways or someone who is counting down the minutes until you are handed your diploma and head off into the college world or "real life", I promise there will be a few things you miss about high school. The sports games you go to with your friends, seeing some of your best friends every day, high school dances, and there are so many more that may never be the same or even happen again. This time is so valuable, please do not forget to stop every now and again to realize exactly what you have been blessed with. Whether your next adventure is college or being a full time adult, life will never be this way again. You may find comfort in this fact or feel upset: either way, do not take anything for granted and try to take full advantage of this last year of high school.

If you are in school now, there is a pretty good chance that someone who cares about you and loves you made sure you were there. Those people may be your parents, grandparents, older siblings, various relatives, and others: in each case, those people care about you enough to make sure you are getting an education. Do not forget that. Sure they may not have let you skip class that one time sophomore year when you were positive you were deathly ill, but they have had your best interest at heart this whole time. Senior year gets so extremely busy and continually gets more jam-packed, but please just take a moment to appreciate whoever has taken care of you for all these years and for your whole life.

Sure, high school classes may be difficult for some and a breeze for others, but don't slack off at the end. Take it from me, it is so easy to simply do the most bare minimum to finish your classes, but try to put a little bit of effort in to finish these last four years on a high note. Doing this will also help when you get to college and realize just how difficult getting your homework done can be. This is also the time to try to look into what you would like to do for the rest of your life; trust me, you do not have to go into college with your major set in stone, but at least thinking about what career wouldn't make you want to quit every morning may be good.

If I could say one last thing, it would be to make the most of every day you have. Soon, you will be packing up and leaving your family and friends for school or watching your friends go, and that is one of the hardest times. Even when all you want to do is sit in bed and re-watch The Office for the third time, go and make time for your friends. Spend time with your family before you go, this time is so important. Do what you know you have to do to make sure when you leave high school, you don't have any regrets.