Dear Upcoming High School Seniors,

Before you know it, summer is going to fly by and soon you will be entering the doors of your high school with as much swagger and confidence as Troy and Gabriella in "High School Musical 3". You'll strut past the timid, anxious freshmen who are nervously exiting their parent's mini van and rattle your keys with a nod and finger gun greeting. A swarm of your freshly tanned posse will attack you with hugs and inside jokes. You'll laugh and continue on into the building you've been dreaming of ruling for the past four years. The peak of your high school career will be in this moment and it will be glorious.

But, don't be fooled by the awesomeness this moment will bring you, because soon you will be stressing over one last chance at the ACT, applying for scholarships from organizations you've never heard of, cramming for the AP tests, and, most crucially, deciding your post-graduation plans.

Amidst all the stress of the academic work senior year brings, there's also a fair amount of social decisions to make. You may have to decide whether you'll stay with your significant other after graduation or who you're going to prom with or which friends will be the ones to keep after you all go your separate ways.

There's also the emotional roller coaster which will soon occur. As the months go by, reality will quickly set in as you realize you'll be leaving your family, friends, home, dog, and favorite hammock spot for a place with nameless individuals and dog-less sidewalks. You'll start to realize how much you love the way your front door squeaks and the chips and queso from your favorite restaurant. The familiarity of the street signs and right turns you take to get to your friends' houses will become treasured instead of routine as you try to soak up every last weekend of adventure.

But then Spring will come and the stress and nostalgia will dissipate as the excitement of graduation, parties, and end-of-school busyness seeps into your calendar.

Almost-Senior, please hear me when I tell you to hold on to each moment of this year. These last two semesters will be the fastest of your high school career...don't let them slip through your fingers. Grasp the memories and friendships, stress and drama, work and lack of sleep. Appreciate the things you might miss the most - your mom's laugh, dog fur on your blankets, and the sound of your neighbor's lawn mower on a Saturday morning.

And make this year count. You have people all around you watching the way you carry yourself. Value the underclassmen who worship the ground you walk on. Take time to converse with your parents' friends. Be the hardest worker on the sport's team or at your job. Leave behind a name that, once you leave home, will be talked about with admiration.

This is your year. Make it worth something.

Sincerely,

A College Student