To the second semester senior in high school,

I remember feeling how you are feeling right now. Actually, I was in your exact same place only a year ago. You’re anxious to go to college. You’re anxious to leave your hometown to explore new places, tired of walking through crowded, cramped school hallways, yet excited for the warm weather and the last summer before college to come. You feel ready to move on and all these emotions are pent up inside of you. This time of year for a high school senior is kind of like the calm before the storm. You’re either waiting for those last few letters to come or trying to make a decision as to where you see yourself for the next four years. Some of you already know where you will be going to school next and what your plans are, and some won’t. Some of you are really looking forward to leaving home and some aren’t.

Time flies. Just a year ago I was that same high school senior who had mixed emotions to say the least. I didn’t want high school to end but at the same time I was ready to move on. You don’t want to admit that you’re nervous and neither did I. When arguing with my parents and brother I would defiantly say “I can’t wait to go to college” or “I’m not going to miss you.” At that point in time I thought it was true. At that point in time college was still this mystical idea where it’s image was built up from stories we’ve all heard at some point in our lives.

You have what, less than 100 days left of high school? Crazy, I know. Now is the time where it seems like everything is happening at once; it’s the final stretch of the school year before you reach the real world of college. There’s graduation prep, trying to remain motivated for the remainder of the school year, planning for prom, the looming of AP exams, and more. It’s overwhelming yet exciting. In just a few months you will be on your way to starting a new journey.

Take it all in. Take a moment to reflect on your last four years while walking through the halls. Enjoy the classes where you teachers walk in everyday with a smile. Thank the teachers who know your name and are always there to help. Give your parents an extra hug because believe it or not, this time is hard for them too. Take the time to thank your friends for being your friends. Let your mom take pictures to remember the special moments, they’ll come in handy when you’re at school and are missing home. And finally, when it comes the time to walk across the stage or football field at graduation, take a minute to look at all the people around you, your family in the audience, your teachers beaming proudly, your friends yelling your name, and your peers of the class of 2017, the people you have spent your last four years with.

Don’t be afraid to cry, sometimes you can’t help it. Even if you hated high school it’s still sentimental. You just closed a chapter of your life.

I’m not going to lie, college is great. You get to meet new people, explore new places, and most importantly start finding who you are as a person. Your first steps at college are your first steps into the real world. You become more independent, and more responsible than you would have thought. You are going to appreciate your hometown, and the foundation that it gave you.

So enjoy this time. This is your time. Sure it’s scary not always knowing what the future may hold but it’s exciting and adrenaline rushing at the same time. Your hard work has paid off and now the world is waiting just around the corner.

Sincerely,

Second semester freshman in college