I always heard growing up how high school was the "glory days" and "the best four years of your life'. Well, I beg to differ. I just finished my freshmen year of college and I am already way happier now than in the time I was in high school. Now, I know some people peaked in high school and that's why they love it and why they won't leave our hometown. I guess that just isn't for me. I graduated a small high school in the midwest with 150 other people. During my senior year, I realized that I was just ready to move on.
Sure, I had some good times in high school. My high school taught me a lot. I learned what I wanted out of my life and that I couldn't get stuck in my small midwestern town. At least not when I had the chance to leave and start new. However, I did make some incredible friends that I hope to stay in my life forever. I miss my cheer team and the bond I made with those people over four years. I miss the normal things. The smaller things like "Friday Night Lights" and homecoming rallies. But never in a million years would I relive high school all over again. I was done with the pettiness and drama of the hundreds of hormonal teenagers in one place. It was not the happiest time in my life, I dealt with a lot of personal struggles but more than that I was just finally ready to get out and start living my life the way I want.
That is why I was so okay with going to a University 9 hours away from home, in the south and not knowing a single person in a school of 28,000 other people. I craved the change. It was scary and thrilling at the same time. I was able to start fresh and start finding myself. High school graduation is only the beginning. A whole new part of your life is beginning.
It's okay to miss high school and the friends you made. But to the class of 2016, don't dwell on the past. You're in the prime time of your life to start figuring yourself out. You are starting a new and exciting chapter in your life and you should look forward to the new adventures awaiting you. It's terrifying, but take risks. Make the hard choices. Keep in touch with your old friends, but don't be afraid to make new ones as well. Open yourself up to all the new possibilities of what could be.
Get excited about the future, it's scary as hell. You're gonna love it.
