Dear High School Seniors,

By now, most of you have gotten accepted to colleges and know where you're going to continue your education after you graduate. If you still don't know, don't worry. You'll figure it out. Graduation is now only a few months away and I know you're dying to just graduate already and go off to college. You want independence, new experiences, new friends, a change in your life, and more. And yes, college can provide all those things and more. It's great. I absolutely love college. However, there are some things I want to tell you.

First, don't get so caught up in the future and the idea of college that you forget to live in the now and finish out high school. Some of my favorite memories from high school are from the last few weeks. You start to realize you won't see the same people everyday anymore, so cherish those friendships. Enjoy times with your friends. Have fun. Laugh. Don't stress over homework too much, but don't neglect it either. You'll never be able to go to high school again, so enjoy it while it lasts.

Don't neglect your parents. I know you want your independence and it can't seem to come fast enough. You want to go out and live without your parents watching over you. I get it. But know that, while you go off and enjoy life on your own, they have to adjust to life without you. It's hard for them. They will miss you. So take these last few months of being home and spend quality time with them. Get to know them better. Ask them questions and listen to their stories and advice. Let them know how much they mean to you. Purposely find ways to spend time with them because once you go off to college, you won't see them as much. You'll cherish the time you get to spend with them because you'll realize how much you've missed being with them.

Know that once you go off to college, some of your high school friends won't be your friends anymore. You meet so many new people in college that will become some of your best friends. You'll find yourself wanting to hang out with them, and you'll slowly start to lose contact with a lot of people from high school. You'll talk every now and then, and maybe you'll hang out once or twice over breaks, but it won't be the same. And that is okay. It's normal. You'll keep some close friends from high school, but chances are, not everyone you were friends with will remain your close friends.

You'll have more free time in college than you could ever imagine. You're only in class for about 15 hours each week, and the rest is up to you. Don't neglect studying. You'll be tempted to just hang out with friends, but remember keep a balance between school work and your social life. It's what you do with your free time that matters.

Get involved in college. Check out the different clubs, events, and activities. There's always something to attend, and you can learn a lot about yourself by getting involved. It's also a great way to gain new opportunities and experiences. Try things that you normally wouldn't try.

I know that graduation seems so close yet so far, but it will fly by faster than you can imagine. I encourage you to spend your remaining time well. Hang out with friends. Have deeper conversations. Listen to your teachers' advice. Appreciate your parents. Spend time with your family. Get to know them better. Cherish your last few months at home because you won't ever live at home the same way. You'll go back for breaks, but chances are you'll only be back for short periods of time and then you're off again.

Be excited for college, because it's great. But don't forget to live in the now and enjoy your last few months of high school.

Sincerely,

A college freshman.