Hello, future graduates. The big day is almost here! Hope your senior year has been all you imagined it would be. I hope you enjoyed your last Friday night football game as a student. I hope you enjoyed your Senior Semi. I hope you enjoyed doing the theme week for each game for the last time. I hope you enjoyed your senior prom. I hope your senior year was all you wanted it to be. I don't want this to be sappy, but from one New Brighton graduate to a future graduate, I wish you nothing but the best.
You've probably been counting down the days until graduation all year. From the first day where you were taking pictures with half of your class in your senior shirts, to the last day where everyone is wearing their future college shirts. Being with the group of people you've been with since kindergarten for only a few more days may be sad, but for some it may be a relief. You're probably like, "Finally, I never get to see these fools again." However, you never realize how much you'll miss people until you guys are separated and living your own lives and going to different schools.
Soon you'll realize that after your last year of high school, not all your friends from high school will be there. They'll find friends at school or wherever they're at, and it'll seem like they don't care about you anymore. They still do, they just never hear from your butt. They might even feel like you've forgotten them as well. The first year after graduating isn't easy because you have to become an actual adult and do adult things--shopping for bedding, living on your own, and actually pay for things on your own. Don't freak out, it's not that scary. Yeah, it's hard to adapt to living on your own for a while, but you do get that chance to taste freedom and adulthood for the first time.
Now it's time for the big C word. College! It may be scary dealing with people in their twenties and not having your parents around. However, it's fun because you can finally be you. You can finally go out without having a bed time. That is unless you have a paper due at midnight. You can finally live life without any regrets. It's a time to make mistakes, mess up, and not always do the right thing. You learn more about yourself through your mistakes than through your successes. If you were a "brainiac" in high school, don't expect to be the same way in college. Trust me. (Even though I did make the Dean's List two times my freshman year *brushes shoulders*). It's a lot of hard work. The thing about college is, no one's forcing you to do your work. You have to motivate yourself and be your biggest cheerleader because you're not going to have classes with your best friends anymore.
Don't worry, I'm not here to scare you, I'm here to help. Just know, life doesn't get easier, but you do have fun trying to deal with it. Don't make it harder than it should be. You will have access to so many resources when you start school. You have a high school diploma. Whether you're going to college or not, use it! Put it to good use. You can now get jobs, go to trade school, explore, and learn. Don't put it to waste. You worked hard and sacrificed a lot to walk up on stage and take a piece of paper in a nicely sewn folder. Most people can't say they graduated high school. Be proud that you made it! Be proud that your parents have sacrificed gas, money, and their own lives to see you succeed. High school may have been annoying to deal with. but it is an honor to say you finished.
The point of this banter is, have fun! Be young and wild and free (Thanks, Wiz). In all seriousness, live your life, be happy, make mistakes. Plus, don't be afraid to be afraid. Acknowledge that you're not all grown up and don't know and understand everything. Never be afraid to have questions. Never be afraid to ask your parents for advice, and possibly money. Overall, have fun, 2016 graduates. Life is ready! Go out and do you boo boo! *insert heart emoji*
