Dear Incoming Freshman,

First of all, welcome to high school! You are entering a new school, a new land as I like to call it. Despite what you may hear, high school isn't all that bad. There are many paths you have to pick, long bridges you have to pass without falling, and you're going to have to fight for what you believe. In the end it all leads to a rainbow with a pot of gold, you must use that gold wisely though because it's limited and you can't get it all back. It may look like you have so much time for this, but you should enjoy every minute, it all flies by. 4 years may seem like a lot of time but if you think about it, it really isn't. Picture this, your life is a timeline. There's your birth and some events, then graduating 8th grade, and then high school. A timeline is ginormous but there are little lines on it that show each year. There are only 4 lines. 4 little lines. Then it's done. And then the rest of your life begins. Just think in 4 little lines, you officially become an adult. Now, I am not trying to scare you at all. I am making you aware of time and how much you need to stay on top of things.

I also want you to realize it's okay to mess up. Yes ,we all make mistakes. Just brush yourself off and keep walking in your path. What if you're on your path you trip and fall? You are not just going to sit there and cry. You are going to get up and keep walking. So what if you fail that one test and you're a “straight A” student? So what if you have a B in a class? So what if you only had C's in one class? So what if your boyfriend or girlfriend broke up with you, or you don't look as good as you want? What if you have acne? What if you have scars and you aren't happy and you don't think you will make it? I am going to tell you this, in 4 years when you graduate none of this is going to matter. Those stereotypical labels that everyone thinks define a person, won't matter. Those bad grades are behind you, those rude people aren't anyone to you now, and you will be going to college and have a job because kid you graduated high school. It all gets better. You are an amazing person and you need to remember that. I know at times it's hard to because everything is going wrong. But remember that path, a road is nothing without a few bumps in it. The life you live is an amazing life. Sometimes it's harder to find the amazing things but if you look hard enough you will find it. When people try to change your mind on your life, don't let them. Take it with a grain of salt. It is your life. Also, take risks, but don't hurt yourself. Speak up for yourself and be assertive. Tryout for the sports team you want to or for the school play. Be free and be yourself and don't let anybody change you.

Another thing I want to tell you is, appreciate your teachers. They aren't out to get you, even the strict ones. The strict ones wake you up. Talk to that strict teacher about your struggles in the class and I am 99% sure, he/she will understand how you are feeling. Always be nice to your teachers and if you're lucky enough to have a bond with one of them, keep it, you will remember them for the rest of your life and they still will impact you even after you graduate. Don't sleep in class, don't text. Pay attention to what they are saying, they aren't in it just for money, they are also in it to show you how outstanding and smart you can be.

The last thing I want to tell you is to walk around the hallways with pride and dignity. No not conceded, dignity, like no one can stop you. Even on your melancholy days walk with your head up high and a smile on your face. If someone trips you in the hall or if you trip, get back up and don't even let it look like it bothered you. I am going to tell you, you will have bad days where you just want to cry but I also know that there is someone there for you. Go to your favorite teacher and vent, go to your best friend and cry into their arms. You could even go up to a friend who you barley talk to and just vent and cry, I bet they would care. We all need to cry and get angry sometimes. We all have bad days.

Finally, you see all of that I just wrote to you? Think about it, once high school is over, you made it through all of that. You? Yes you! You are going to be walking at graduation receiving your diploma, smiling proudly. Your high school life will flash before your eyes as you move your tassels and throw your graduation cap in the air at graduation. If right now you're reading this and thinking you'll never make it to that point, you will. You can get through anything as long as you keep holding on, trust me. Remember that you cannot live a positive life with a negative mind.

"Life is about change, sometimes its painful, sometimes its beautiful, but most of the time its both."

Have a great 4 years.

From A Graduated Senior,

Nicolette Palazzo