As of June 16th, 2016, I am officially a high school graduate! Smiles, tears, and other emotional features were apparent on my classmates’ faces as we moved our tassels from the left to the right. This marked the end of our high school journey, meaning that most of us won’t be seeing each other after this. When we left the field, hugs were given, tears were shed, and goodbyes were given. However, whenever someone approached me to say goodbye, I didn’t follow suit and say goodbye too. Instead, I said “see you later.”

The scary fact is that I may never see most of my classmates again, at least not personally. Sure, I may run into a couple of them when I come back home during break, but it won’t be the same. The routine that is high school is gone, and the faces that came along with it will soon become a faded memory. I may continue talking to my closest friends, but being 3,000 miles away, my relationships will face the test of distance. And although maybe I will lose those who meant so much to me, I’m not afraid.

Life goes on and when one journey ends, another one begins. The new journey will have new faces, new memories, and new experiences. I’ve learned that I can’t be scared of being distant from my past; instead, I need to face the future with a smile. In just one week, I will be starting my new journey, college, as I pursue an enriching summer program at my college. While I’m nervous that my life will no longer be as much like a routine as high school was, I look forward to what life has to offer. As I walked down the stage to receive my high school diploma, it hit me that this piece of paper didn’t have to be just a token of my four years of high school; it was also the ticket to my future.

The reason I’m not afraid of losing people who are special to me is because those relationships that are meant to last a lifetime will withstand all obstacles thrown in front of them. Even to those that don’t survive, that doesn’t mean the memories die. Because that’s the great thing about memories: they last an eternity. I will never forget all the moments I spent with the people I cared about, and that’s why I don’t have to say goodbye. These people will always be in my heart, even as I begin to meet new people. And truthfully, the people I called my friends during high school will be the next Albert Einsteins and Isaac Newtons. They have the potential of doing great things, of making the world a better place. I know I’ll be seeing their names as the next headlining writers, scientists, or experts in whatever profession they decide to pursue. And they signed my yearbook, so you know, I also have their autographs.

Making memories doesn’t end here; actually, this is just the beginning of a life full of making memories. To my high school friends that I leave behind, I know that I will be seeing your names very soon as the next great minds of the 21st century. Even if life has us take different paths, I hope that they will cross once again. But once again, this isn’t a goodbye, simply a “see you later.”