Tonight, I attended my alma mater’s Class of 2016 graduation. I got to see the kids who I’ve watched grow up make the same walk across the stage that I took one year ago. I saw the excitement in their eyes and the joy in their hearts, remembering the same feelings I was having in that moment.
I walked across that stage feeling on top of the world. Now, I’ve got my first year of college under my belt and I feel like a whole different person. There’s something about going off to school (especially out of state) that changes you. It's been a year of painful yet beautiful growth, fixing my eyes so that I see world in a completely different light. I have a perspective on life that I wish I could've had sooner. Going back and hanging out with my younger friends got me thinking - what’s the advice I would give to those who still have time left in high school?
1. You don’t need to know your future.
People tell us this all the time, but somehow it never seems to sink in. Don’t worry about your major or other future plans now. Oftentimes we spend so much energy looking to the future that we don’t know who we are now - and that’s important! Use your time to enjoy life - go hard at the football games, have fun in your extracurriculars, and love time spent with your friends. These are days you’ll want to cherish forever
2. Don’t worry about your extra-curriculars… REALLY.
Unless you’re going Ivy, don’t spend your life building up a resume. In high school, I spent hours every week pouring myself into projects and clubs that I’m not even sure I believed in. And in the end, I went to a school that didn’t even ask about extra-curriculars on my application. If you’re going to somewhere competitive, by all means - RESUME BUILD! But if you’re staying in-state or somewhere more low-key, just enjoy your life. Dive into the activities that you love and let the rest go. You’ll enjoy each day more and save yourself a ton of stress that way.
3. No one cares about the awards and accolades a year later.
No, scratch that - no one cares a week later. I spent my four years dreaming about the awards I’d get when I was a senior, and I was blessed to get them in the end. But fast forward three months after graduation and no one cares. I’m discouraging you from trying your best, but don’t find your identity in these things. It is your character and lasting impressions in people’s lives that will remain, even when the trophies and certificates get forgotten. Your dreams are worth more than something that will fade this quickly, so chase after the bigger things and believe that the rest will follow.
4. Make your time count.
The sweetest part of any graduation that I’ve been to are the cheers you hear after a graduate is called to walk across the stage. However, the saddest part is when the cheers are few - especially when that same person was sitting onstage moments ago being named a top honor graduate. To think that someone could spend so much time in their studies or extracurriculars but not be leaving a positive legacy with others is chilling. Don’t give all of your time to things that only improve your life. Spend your days loving other people. Make them smile and graduate knowing not only that you’ve set yourself up for success, but that you’ve made the world a better place for those that you’re leaving behind. The relationships you form matter so much more than anything else in the end.
Overall, your senior year is such a sweet time. You get to reflect on how much you’ve grown in the three years prior, relish in all of your “last”s, while also celebrating the future that lies ahead. Love every second of it, Class of 2017. College is a fun ride that I guarantee you'll love, but know that this time is special, too. Be sure to make it count!
