Hey high school seniors,

I want you to know how much I miss you guys. I didn’t realize how close I was with any of you until I stopped seeing you on the daily. You guys are amazing people and you all are going to touch this world. I’m so beyond blessed to have been a part of your life and I still hope that I have the privilege to be a part of this next step of life. That would be your freshman year of college. Y’all will kill it, I can promise you that. You’re so much stronger and smarter than I am. I will always be here for you. I’m only a text, call or skype away. Before you walk across that stage and say goodbye to the hell that we called high school, you need to know some things. I see you guys posting about where you’re going to school, and I’m so pumped for every single one of you guys but here some words I want to speak to you.

I know y’all have less than a month until the last day of school and graduation. Do me this solid and do not wish it away. This last month of school will be full of precious memories with people that care about you. Yeah, you can stay in touch. Technology made that such an awesome thing, but it won’t be the same, I promise. And you say you won’t miss high school or some of the people there, but you will. It’s so much easier said than done, and I regret wishing away all of it. High school is a once in a lifetime thing. No one can replace your favorite teacher. I’ve tried to find someone and I’ve come to the conclusion that the one teacher that has forever changed my life is incapable of being replaced. I hope that you don’t come to the same conclusion, but you might.

College will be different. You’ll spend most of your freshman year figuring friends out, figuring the school out and just trying to survive. There will be times where you think you might be dying and other times where you wish you were. But as a certain teacher we all know would say, this too shall pass. You will get through it. I did. You guys are so much stronger and smarter than I could ever be. While it seems hard, it truly is a good thing. The lessons you learn, the people you meet and the experience you will have will only strengthen you. Mine made me stronger. And one thing that you definitely need to know is that it’s completely okay not to be okay. Bad days are inevitable. Just remember, it’s a bad day, not a bad life. You can even have a series of bad days, but that does not equal a bad life.

The last thing you need to know is that I love each and every one of you so dearly. It is my heart’s desire for you to succeed in life. I know you will. I can only hope you choose to allow me to continue to be a part of your life. You are destined for greatness. I hope that you believe everything that I just said. Every sentence, every word, every punctuation was said from the very bottom of my heart. You guys are my people, my loves. You are amazing friends. Thank you so much for being there for me during my freshman year and I promise I’ll be there for yours. You’ll be amazing and you will make it. Don’t change who you are, loves. This world wouldn’t be the same without any of you in it.

I love you guys. Stay in touch.