Congratulations! You did it. You are on to bigger and better things now. You have finished high school and are ready to become an adult, but before this can happen, you have to graduate.
Graduation day is something that you look forward to your whole life. It's finally the day you can say "I did it, I'm done with high school." It's a very exciting time because there are so many emotions going on. You don't know whether to feel happy you're done with high school, sad because you're going to be leaving your friends and family or excited because you are going to be in a new environment with new people. It will be your first time that you are completely on your own, which is scary and amazing all at the same time. But graduation day still needs to happen before anything else is possible.
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On this day, instead of feeling many different emotions, you will probably only feel one thing. Joy. You are going to feel so joyful that those long, hard high school years are finally behind you. Now, you have better things to look forward to. You will feel joy when you start getting ready for the day. You will feel joy when you arrive at the school. You will feel joy when you see your classmates in their caps and gowns and when you walk in to be seated. You will feel overjoyed when you listen to the valedictorian and salutatorian speeches because it will take you back to freshmen year and all those memories you made in between. It won't hit you that you graduated. It won't hit you that you may never see some of these people that you grew up with again. And it won't hit you that you will be leaving your best friends in just a short three months. It won't hit you until the summer is over and you realize that it is time to say goodbye.
There is something important that you need to know and its that you shouldn't be in such as rush to grow up and move on with your life, slow down and enjoy the time you have with all the people you love. You will have plenty of time to be an adult and rush around at college, but this summer, on this day; stop and slow down. Think about all the wonderful memories you have shared together. Think about what you will miss most about your hometown, even though you claim to hate it. I know you are ready to move on to the next chapter of your life, but once you're gone, you will miss it. You will miss those summer nights with your best friends. You will miss your family and you will miss that town that you so eagerly left behind.
I know as well as anyone how excited and anxious you are to leave everything and start the next phase of your life. It is an exciting time, but just remember as you walk into that high school for the last time and walk across that stage to stop and truly reflect on those memories that you will hold near and dear to your heart.
Congrats class of 2016! Live this summer up because it will go by quicker than you think.
