Right now, you probably have a million things running through your mind. You just closed a chapter of your life that you thought would never end. No more high school sports, no more ACT's or seeing the same people every day. Everyone probably told you that high school would be the greatest part of your life, but I promise you that it is not.
High school was great and all, I mean do not get me wrong. I made great friends and great memories, but it gets so much better in so many ways. You are about to find out who you are. You are going to make new friends, go new places, try new things and grow more as a person in one short year than you have in four years of high school.
School will be harder, you will have to do "adult things" and your parents will not always be there to correct your mistakes or deal with the things that you do not want to deal with. Is that scary? Of course, but it is how you grow up and find your place in this world.
There are so many things you are going to experience and learn as you start the next chapter of your life and you should be excited about that. You should hold on to your memories and your old friends, but do not hold on so tight that you miss out on new opportunities.
Be open to all the changes that you will experience. Find yourself, find new friends and new passions, but never let go of who you were in high school. Take the things you learned from your favorite high school teacher. Remember those lectures from your parents. Remember what you learned from your biggest heartbreak so far and be ready for all that is coming your way.
Stay true to who you are, even though it will be hard. New people and new things can mean trying to change to impress people and that is never a good idea. Keep believing what you believe. Keep your values and your morals in line. Love your friends, your family and yourself.
Do not get caught up in the little things that will not matter later. That girl that made a rude comment to you will not matter tomorrow. That loser of a guy that you thought you liked will not matter in a week from now. That time you embarrassed yourself in front of your new friends will not matter when you wake up in the morning.
The person you were in high school does not matter in college. Your high school grade point average and your time as a varsity cheerleader will not matter. No one cares that you were a loser in high school or that you were the most popular person. It will not matter that you dated that cute older guy or that you had the nicest car out of all your friends.
The people you are about to meet care about now. They care about who you are and how you want to be as you move forward. This is your chance to start over. It's a chance for you to be who you want to be. It's a new chapter full of endless possibilities.
I hope you are excited to start this chapter. I hope you are having the time of your life as you spend your last summer at home, the way you have always remembered. Make memories, have fun and love those around you.
Remember your past, but be ready to take on the future. You are about to have so much fun, learn so much and make so many new memories. The best is yet to come.
