So, in the blink of an eye, that’s it. You’ve gone to prom, you’ve taken your finals, you’ve thrown your cap in the air and have been officially given alumni status of your beloved high school. It’s a bittersweet feeling. On one hand, you're happy to get the heck out of there — 18 years with the same people sure does get old really fast. Yet you have absolutely no idea what lies ahead — it’s scary! What if I never see my friends again? What if I don’t make friends in college? What if no sorority or fraternity likes me? What if I fail my classes? What if what if what if?!

It’s hard to sit back and patiently wait for yet another three months until your parents officially ship you off to college. Believe me, for the entirety of my senior year and especially throughout the summer I just wanted nothing more but to pack up and get on down to college, which I lovingly named “The Promised Land.” Or maybe you’re dreading it, thinking about how there’s just no possible way you could have any better friends or any better life than you do now. I’m here to tell you that no matter how great, horrible, or boring you think your life is now, it is about to get a whole lot better in a whole lot of different ways. For real, after just one year of college I’ve never known myself better than I do now and I’ve never been more sad for finals week to end, because that means I’m going to have to leave this place that’s slowly worked its way so deep into my heart.

As you sit there waiting for what feels like eternity, just watching the countdown on your phone until the end goal called move-in day, there is actually a lot you need to be doing. The waiting game is so hard to play, but you aren’t ready just yet. Here’s my assignment for you for this summer: enjoy every single thing you do, and hold it all in your heart. You have three months to close out a chapter of your life before you open a whole new, wild tale called college. Chill with your family and actually spend time with them, go do innocent high school things with your friends, and hug your dogs constantly. Make sure you’re ending your time with the people you love on a good note; you’ll come to see in college that no matter how long you’re apart from someone you were such good friends with in high school, reuniting with that person will be just simply picking up right where you left off. Share experiences with these friends that you can look back on and laugh about. Cry together — it’s okay to cry because you’re scared of the future. For real, you will want to live up your last few months of being home, because once you start college you’re kind of obligated to do grown up things with your summers (and resume building is just oh so fun).

More than anything, prepare yourself for college spiritually. The most important relationship you can build during this transition is a relationship with God, because He will play a crucial role in easing all your worries, anxieties and trials during college (and beyond, of course). Know your limits, and pray for guidance and the self-control to say no to temptations that can and will present themselves to you soon. Ask for a heart at rest because that is truly what beauty and grace is all about.

You’re about to enter the most crucial time period of your life, and I’m just so excited for you! Your life is about to change in drastic ways, but don’t worry — it’s all for the best and I promise you will enjoy every second of the ride. Know that God is on your side and will guide your path, and know that a whole bunch of people love you and care about you and want you to succeed in everything you do. So take a deep breath, go get some ice cream with your pals, and smile because life is good. Oh yeah, and hug your dog one more time.