Four years. Seems like a lifetime doesn't it? I know it seems like graduation is basically eons away, but be careful. It's coming faster than you realize, and there's a few things you need to know about those four years first.
Don't blink. You might miss it all. That's how fast they'll go by.
Take pictures, and take them often. Take them with everyone and of everything.
Hug your friends. Tell them you love them. Tell them how much each and every one of them means to you, and thank them for loving you in return. You don't know how lucky you are to see them every day.
Do what you love, not what you think you should love doing. If you want to join a club, join the club. If you want to have the lead role in the play, then audition for it. Don't doubt yourself.
Yell a little louder at the football games, even if you don't care about football, and even if your team never wins a single game.
Be kind. Be kind to everyone you meet, but also be kind to yourself.
Thank your teachers. As much time as you spend at school, they spend even more. Be sure to tell the important ones all that they've done for you, and make sure they know how thankful you are. You'll miss them more than you know.
Make time. Make time for your family and make time for your friends. Make time to watch Harry Potter with your little brother, and make time for random Sonic runs with your best friends.
Don't waste your time wishing your life away and constantly worrying about what comes next. You have plenty of time to worry about the future in the future.
Smile more. Smile at people you may not usually smile at. You never know how much they might need it.
Laugh often. Laugh at every dumb joke your favorite teacher makes. Laugh at the lunch table when your friend makes Sprite come out of her nose. Just laugh as often as you can, and make sure the people you love are laughing with you.
Speak your mind. Make your voice heard. Your opinion matters just as much as anyone else's. Don't let anyone walk all over you. Your time is precious, so don't waste it on people who don't deserve it.
Push yourself, but not too much. Strive to be better in all things, but don't sweat the small stuff. That 79 percent on your honors calculus exam won't matter in a few months.
Get to know someone before you decide you don't like them. You might be missing out on some amazing friendships if you don't.
Look around. Look at the hallways that are always too crowded. Look at your locker. You know, the one that annoying couple is always standing in front of every day. Look at the classrooms: the ones where you took your favorite classes and your not-so-favorite ones. Look at the cafeteria, the gym, and the theater. Look around at the place in which you spend seven hours of every week day and take it all in.
It may not look like much with its outdated floors and dripping ceilings, but it's the place that helped make you who you are. You did a lot of learning, a lot of growing, and a lot of living in those halls and classrooms.
Look around and be thankful. Be thankful for the life you have, the people who are with you, and the memories you're making. Cherish all of it. Never take any of it for granted because it'll be gone faster than you can imagine, and you'll miss it more than you know.
