Class of 2018:
It is here. You are leaving high school, and you’re never ever looking back, right? Well, you have to make it through graduation first.
A year ago, I was right where you are now — not-so-patiently waiting for the “big day” of grabbing my diploma and my independence. Along the way, I encountered countless people who wanted to give me advice. You will too. As people constantly pour congratulations over your head like a big jug of Gatorade after the Super Bowl, you’ll hear a few cliché phrases over and over (and over and over and over).
Everyone will tell you...
“These are not the best days of your life.”
Now, this is true — you will make new memories and have those “best days of your life” that adults always tell you about. But it’s ok to be sad. I worried that missing some parts of high school was unhealthy. News flash: It’s not. And don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. High school is all you have known to this point and these are your only (therefore, your best) memories.
“Live it up, you’ll never get these moments back.”
True. However, some people hate high school and sprint out the door the minute they grab that diploma. If this is you, you’ll find your place somewhere else. Thank goodness for the incredibly absurd clubs in college — join the Quidditch team, the hammocking club or the esports clan.
“Keep in touch!”
As hard as you may try, it is impossible to keep in touch with everyone from high school. There will be friends that you speak to every day, but there will be many, many more that you no longer talk to at all. So when the girl that sat next to you in chemistry tells you she will call, don’t take it personally when you hear nothing out of her until your distant high school reunion.
“Go forth and make your mark on the world!”
... says every graduation speaker. Ever. This one is so overused that I just cannot express my confusion over why people still say it. Side note: If you are speaking at graduation, and you have this written in your speech, cross it out. You’ll thank me later.
“No one marries the person they date in high school.”
Here’s a bonus for all the graduates still dating their high school sweethearts: There’s nothing wrong with staying with your high school love, no matter how many times people say this. That said, there’s also nothing wrong with you if your high school relationship fizzles.
And finally...
“Today marks the first day of the rest of your life.”
HA! Every day is the first day of the rest of your life, right?
High school culminates on this one final day where all the graduates say goodbye to their friends and the parents and grandparents wish luck upon their little babies. Everyone has their piece to say. Here's my non-cliché advice: do what you want and spend time with the people you love. It doesn't get any better than that.
