Dear high school seniors,

Well, this is it. This is the last few months of childhood, and I know how scary that sounds. There are some of you that cannot wait to leave, and then there are some that cannot fathom leaving.
Either way, I get it. Life is changing and it is so scary and so exciting. Some of us know what we will be doing this fall, and others are not sure. If you are set on a path, congratulations on being ready for this next chapter of your life, and I am sure it is going to be great. If you aren't sure what you're doing, it's okay. Take a deep breath, everything will be figured out, so don't stress if you haven't committed to a college or don't have a job lined up. Everything will manage to come together in time.

I want to remind everyone of one thing: this part of your life is coming to an end, and it is so important that you make the most of the time left. I'm sure that I sound like you have something to mourn, and in a way you do. Now is the time to enjoy life, because from here on out it is not going to be easy. I had a teacher really remind us that beyond this point, life is hard and it is not anything like high school. That might seem like a good thing to some, but remember that means taking full responsibility for all actions, and always being held accountable.

After this, it is college, jobs, moving, marriages, kids, and a life, like a real life. It is going to be a life where you can't go running to your parents to fix a problem, I mean you could but eventually you're going to have to learn to solve problems on your own. I'm not trying to scare people, I am just reminding everyone that it is the end of an era.

Now, I am also not saying that life is going to suck beyond this point. Some people say high school is the best four years of you're life, some say that it is college, and some say it is a point beyond that. I always like to think that the best is yet to come. Everything is going to be different and new, but it is no longer going to be a life that is controlled by parents, teachers, etc. We are going to be able to live our lives for ourselves, the way that we choose to do so, so get excited.

In this time where we so close to the end, but not yet free, do not lose sight of what is important. There are still deadlines to reach and a GPA to maintain. You cannot give up, remember that colleges are still watching; but also remember that you deserve to have fun. If you have been the kid with their nose stuck in a book, let loose for a little bit. Stay up late hanging out with friends, attend all the school events, take a 'sick day' every now and again. Just love this time, because there will never be a chance to have it again.

Sincerely,

A high school senior.