Senior year of high school is a year of mixed emotions. There is excitement to finally get the heck out of high school and start your life, the stress of all of the tests, applications and expenses, and the sadness for leaving what you once knew behind. So many seniors are so focused on the stress and the excitement that they fail to come to terms with the sadness. This can lead to a feeling of unfinished business when the senior graduates that June.

I have had a lot of time to look back on my senior year in high school. When I first entered into college, the concept that high school was still going on without me and that my high school friends were still there was so weird to me. Now, as a sophomore in college, it seems as though I never went to high school in the first place. The memories of the years all blend together into one single stream of memory. The only things that stand out are the people and the ways in which I grew. With all of this in mind, I have a few words of advice for this year’s graduating class of 2017. Some small words of wisdom to put the excitement, the stresses, and even the sadness of it all more in perspective.

Get as involved as you can.

I know everyone says this to you as a freshman at the Link Crew orientation, but it stills holds true for those last several months. All of the events like Homecoming, Prom, Senior Sunset, etc. are fun, but they’re more than fun when you actively participate in them. When you put forth your best effort into something and are truly intentional with your actions, it means so much more to you. You’ll look back more fondly on your senior Prom or your senior Homecoming if you know that you helped make that a thing.

Enjoy the ride.

Senior year is so crazy. It can be easy to get caught up in the hecticness of it all and to sort of go on auto pilot mode. Accept that it’s going to be challenging, and it’s going to be different, but be present the entire time. Stay up late with your friends doing that SAT study session, go out to Mel's after the football game, and go to every senior activity that you can. The craziness is the best part of the year and you’ll never encounter these experiences with these people who you grew up with again.

Please, Please, Please do your work.

My first year of college was an easy adjustment for me, but some of my friends really struggled. When your teachers give you those long papers or boring reading assignments, it isn’t because they hate you. In college, pretty much all of your work is going to be reading and paper based. Your professors expect you to have done the readings, and if you haven’t done the reading then too bad so sad, you’ll fall behind. My teachers in high school were intentional about telling me this so I made sure to do all of my reading homework, and when I came to college they were completely right. They prepared me for what was to come. So please get used to reading for 2-3 hours out of your textbooks a night because you’re going to have to get used to it at some point, so why not start now?

Let people know the impact they have made on your life.

Lastly, there are people you meet in high school who will change your life forever. Some of these people you will never talk to again after high school, so let them know what a positive difference they made in your life now. My biggest regret is not being more intentional in letting my teachers, my friends, and my coach know how much they made an impact in my life and how much their time is of value to me. A simple notecard or a five minute conversation is all you need to let someone know what they mean to you and not only will they feel good, but so will you for letting them know how great they are.

Enjoy these last months with your peers, Class of 2017, because soon you will all go your separate ways and start your lives as future doctors, teachers, cosmetologists, firefighters, etc. Don’t forget where you came from and live in every moment because before you know it you’ll be walking across that stage in those dorky robes.