Upcoming High School Seniors,

Entering your senior year is incredibly exciting. You begin those many "firsts" that you've been longing for your entire life. However, stop and breathe. During senior year, life flies by. Not only did I just walk the stage, i'm about to begin a life, miles and miles away from the people I love. When you choose between parties and family dinners, choose those family dinners. Hug your moms, hug your dads, love on your siblings. Something that I urge you to realize early on is your family is standing by your side. Many friends ditch you, talk about you and make you cry. But your family will be the ones standing and applauding at graduation. They'll be the ones to soothe your broken hearts and to hug you tight when they say that final "goodbye" before they don't see you for weeks. Fights happen, bad things are said, but at the end of it, your mom and dad are going to be the FIRST ones you think about calling when anything happens at college. Senior year is filled with emotions. Trust me when I say, tears will be common. Laying in bed and realizing you're about to leave, is terrifying. Its necessary, but it's scary. When you get sick and stressed out, and your parents bring you soup and your siblings cuddle with you and watch Family Guy, you're gonna cry. When you hug that teacher that's been by your side since high school started and say,”goodbye” you're going to sit in your car and you are going to cry. These are good tears though. Your heart aches and it's hard but you're growing up and becoming an adult. Get close to God during these times. Love him and lean on him. Pray for your future. This is so important. Take a year off from boyfriends and girlfriends and focus on your relationship with God. The beginning and end of the year, Gods word and support will be in the same place. He never hurts you. He never leaves you alone. Next, TAKE THOSE CLASSES THAT YOU'VE WANTED TO TAKE. Senior year sucks. People say its easy, but it's hard! You might as well take those challenging classes, get that college credit, learn how to do that thing you might never get to learn otherwise. Branch out and have fun. Senioritis IS A THING. You will absolutely have it the first day of school all the way until the last. You will also probably say,”Psh I hated High School. I won't cry." But that's false; yes, you will. You'll tour a bunch of colleges, then you'll pick your college, then your roommate, then your room. Then you pick up those horrible graduation gowns, get your tickets and go to practice. It becomes a reality. You graduate and get your diploma and your life will flash before your eyes. You start with kindergarten and your first friends. Then you travel to "graduating" 5th grade and suffering middle school. Then the first time you got your own car, thought about college and got your heart broken. All the way until you parked your car and realized you were graduating high school. You will finally achieve EVERYTHING you've worked for, for 13 years. There are so many things to learn senior year. So many laughs, so many tears, so many decisions. But cherish those moments with your family and teachers that you love endlessly. Try to finish out the year with success. Study more, Love more, Adventure more. Find yourself senior year. Take advantage of every tiny thing and love every step endlessly. Congrats on getting through 12 years, make this last high school year the best it possibly can be.

Sincerely,

A Graduate