Well you did it. You completed high school. I bet you are feeling pretty proud of yourself and excited for college, as you should be. This is something to celebrate and hold on to the moments as they come to you these next few months. As I sit here after completing my first year of college and seeing all the high school seniors graduate, I can't help but think about how much I miss it. I miss being in high school and I miss the excitement of getting ready for college. I was pretty stress free and relaxed the summer going into college. The summer before my freshman year was one that I will never forget, so make sure you make it unforgettable as well. You have a whole lot of change headed your way and there is no way to prepare for it, so embrace it.

College is fun, but at the same time it is absolutely terrifying.

This is your future. You can't mess around and not care about classes, because you need to pass these classes to be able to have a career in the future. Retaking a class will cost you extra money and could possibly cause you to not graduate in time, which will cost you even more money. The stress to do well is unreal and the pressure is on. Classes will be much harder, but you will be ready. You will do well if you put time and effort into it, and trust me it is going to take a lot of effort.

Change is going to occur.

You thought you changed a lot over the past four years? More change happens in only a few months of college than it did throughout high school. Someone you could be friends with first semester might not be your friend at the end of the semester, or even after a few weeks go by. You meet so many different people and discover who needs to be in your life and who shouldn't. You soon realize that its quality over quantity when it comes to friends in college. You do not need ten friends that only care about going out to parties if you have that one friend who is there for you at 3 A.M when you need someone to talk to or a shoulder to cry on. You discover yourself and what you want in life. You realize how important you are and how much you matter, because it is time to do what makes you happy. Do not be afraid of change though, because change helps you grow.

You learn to grow up, to be on your own.

You do your own laundry, clean your own room, find and pay for your own food, and set your own rules. You may feel pretty free, but you soon come to realize that you took your parents for granted for all these years. You sure do learn to appreciate your family more while you're away and miss them a whole lot.

College is fun too, do not get me wrong.

All the new experiences are fun and the extraordinary adventures you will have you should embrace wholeheartedly. As I said I miss high school earlier, I miss college even more. Even though I am home for only three months, I cannot wait to go back and get right back into the swing of swings. There's going to be a lot of good and bad coming your way, but make sure you let the good overpower the bad. Take a break from studying, spend some time alone, and remember to put yourself first. You are going to love college, but do not rush this summer. I know you are counting the days until you can get out of your hometown, but do not take the life you have for granted right now. I miss the summer before college so take the time to make it as great as you can.