To the High School Senior About to Graduate,

I am sure you are feeling a plethora of emotions as your last day of high school gets closer and closer. I am sure you have been stressing about what dress and shoes to wear to senior prom, how you should do your hair and makeup, and what your prom after party plans will be. I am sure you’ve been contributing to your upcoming senior prank and I am positive that you and the phrase “senior slide” have become far too familiar with one another.

As the last few weeks of senior year are coming to a close, I have one small piece of advice to give to you: don’t wish your time away. One year ago today, I was in your shoes. I had just chosen a college to attend in the fall and I was totally ready to hear that end of the day school bell ring one final time, and walk out the doors of my high school with the biggest smile on my face. As exciting as it was for the school year to come to an end, when you are actually sitting in your very last class, on your very last day, sooner or later it will hit you…

It will hit you that you are no longer going to be attending a school in your hometown with the same kids you have grown up with. You will no longer be with all of your best friends. You are no longer going to be sharing the halls with your acquaintances and your favorite teachers, nor your secret crushes, nor your boyfriend or girlfriend. It is all truly coming to an end. So as you wait in angst for that final end of the day bell to ring, just close your eyes and take a moment to soak up all of the memories you have made in your high school building; the good and the bad and the happy and the sad.

The summer before college is one you will never forget, and your freshman year is more than you could ever hope for, but in the blink of an eye you will be in my shoes, completely done with your freshman year of college; one fourth of your way to graduating college and entering the “real world.” So as you finish up your final weeks of high school here is my advice to you:

1. Let go of the past. Whatever happened in high school, let it stay in high school.

2. Stop walking around as an “entitled senior." Say hello to the little freshman whose shoes you were once in and go sit with the kid who sits alone at lunch every day.

3. Tie loose ends. You don’t want to go into college not knowing where you stand with your “ex-best friend.” Make up, move on, and congratulate each other on coming this far.

4. Enjoy every moment. It may sound cliché, but every final moment you have is precious. Soak in every last second you have with all of the people surrounding you.

5. Being anxious for college is completely normal! I was fortunate enough to have the most amazing and supportive best friends in high school, and as the year was coming to a close, I got anxious about leaving them. I can promise you that your connections with your true friends from high school will never end. And in college, you will meet even more friends that will last a life time.

6. Celebrate! You have completed the infamous K-12! Have an amazing summer and enjoy your first year of college (it flies by)!

Sincerely,

A Soon-to-Be College Sophomore