Class of 2016, you’re so close to the finish line. I remember the feeling, dragging through the last month of silly assignments. Senioritis has taken control, and you could care less. You are completely, checked out. Halt yourself for one moment, and check back in. Not for the purpose of schoolwork, but for yourself. Check yourself back in, for the ending of your high school career. Walking out those doors after graduation, you will think you won’t look back. But, I promise you, you’ll look over your shoulder and miss that place and the people that lied within it.

Don’t get me wrong, your future is so exciting. Transitioning from high school to college is the most exciting and scariest change you will endure. But, college will come. College will be there, high school won’t. Do yourself a favor, and take a step back. The diploma will be placed in your hands before you know it. You will be standing up at graduation, surrounded by the people you have spent the past four years with, and you will move your tassel from right to left. In that very moment, you will not be thinking about your future four years. You will be reminiscing on your high school memories, and who you spent them with. Make sure you make them count.

Spend this last month surrounded by the friends you will keep forever. Look around at graduation and see what high school gave you; you will take these things with you for the rest of your life. Throw away the garbage drama, and keep the special people and moments near to your heart. If you cannot find any, dig deeper. You are surrounded by a crowd of people, that you have shared moments and tremendous time with. You are surrounded by a crowd of people, that will soon go their separate ways. People will forget about you, and you’ll forget about others. But, do not let yourself forget about the happiness high school brought you.

You’ll miss putting on that uniform, when you cannot pick out an outfit for class. You’ll miss having your mom badger you about your day, when you’ve had a bad day and mope in your dorm. You’ll miss driving home from school with all the windows down, when you walk back from class in the rain. You’ll miss prom night, when you look back on the thousands of pictures taken. You’ll miss Friday night football games under the lights, when you’re going out with friends you’ve only known for weeks. You’ll miss the endless nights with your best friends, because they are now miles away.

The point is, live in your moment. Enjoy it. Take it all in, this ending of your journey. Take risks, and have fun. You’ll miss the people. You’ll miss the place. You’ll miss the memories. So do not be so quick to wish your time away, because one day you will want it all back. Make your mark, class of 2016.