Dear High School Senior,

I know that by this point you have heard this a million times over, but cherish every moment you have. High school can be both the best and worst four years of your life, and while graduation may seem like the light at the end of the tunnel, never take your senior year for granted.

While it may have not sunk in yet, you are experiencing a lot of "lasts". Your last football game under the Friday night lights cheering on your friends, your last homecoming dance, your last time stepping foot on the court to play your rival, your last prom, your last pep rally. No matter what it is that you do, or what your passion is, chances are you're going to have a handful of these "lasts". So next time you're at an event, a game, or a competition, look to the people around you, live in the moment, and soak it all in because it will be these moments that you hold onto forever and remember the most when looking back on your time in high school.

SEE ALSO : Why I Miss High School

Time is limited. Forgive that friend who you have been holding a grudge against, speak up and tell a teacher how much you appreciate them and that their teachings and words of advice have helped you. Attend every event even if you couldn't care less about what's going on at it. Make the very most of every moment you have because soon you're going to be thrust into a whole new environment and the last thing you want is regret on your mind.

Branch out. At this point you don't have a lot to lose, so don't settle for what you already have. Meet new people, make new friends, go to that restaurant in the corner of town that you pass everyday and never have been to. A few months from now the cliques that you're in will all be dismantled, so why not prepare yourself for the new environment of college now by exposing yourself to unfamiliar grounds early.

Be thankful. During my senior year, my 5 best girlfriends from middle school put our differences aside that we had accrued since freshmen year and had the best last year together. Almost every weekend, you could find the 6 of us at our local diner just spending time together and treasuring the time we had left with each other. Not a moment was taken for granted.

Slow it down and breath. You're finishing up SATs and ACTs, then turning in college applications, then taking midterms, then patiently (who are we kidding, anxiously) awaiting on college acceptances. Stress levels are through the roof and you have a to-do list longer than you've ever had before. Slow down and breath. Manage your time wisely, but don't allow yourself to not have any fun.

Enjoy the long days and long nights. Cherish your study sessions with your friends just as much as your Friday night parties. Make every second count. And walk down that stage at graduation and be able to look back at your classmates and know that you don't have a single regret.

Sincerely,

A College Freshmen