We’re almost there.

It seems like all anyone can talk and think about anymore is how long we have until we walk across that stage.

As our final proms, AP Tests and senior skip days near, we’re truly in the final calm before the storm.

I don’t think I can consider any part of my senior year as “calm,” but I don’t think there’s going to be another time in my life where I can wake up on weekends and have the choice of just doing absolutely nothing all day with little consequences.

Once summer hits, everyone is going to be traveling, visiting and going to orientations. Summer 2018 is going to go by in the blink of an eye, and as much as I don’t want to admit it, I’m terrified.

I’m not so terrified that I want to stay in high school.

Things have to change, and of course, I’m excited to move on from certain people and places that I’ve been hanging around for four years because I’m required to by law.

However, I think it’s appropriate to say that I’m thankful to have shared the past four years with all of you. I’ve met so many people and built so many relationships over the past four years that I can’t bring myself to feel bad about.

High school was fun in a lot of ways. We spent a lot of time watching in the background as our friends and siblings went through the stressors that senior year can bring, and now, it’s our turn.

Prepare yourselves because things are about to get really crazy really quickly. Don’t forget the memories we’ve all shared...good and bad.

Don’t forget the first pep rally we had to suffer through, how the upperclassmen made sure that we never forgot who ruled the school and the feeling of success after winning our first class wars.

Always remember the first days of school and the class meetings that seemed to have the same message no matter who was giving the presentation.

Keep that feeling of excitement when your parents would wake you up just to tell you that school was canceled for snow and the anger you felt when you had to make up that snow day in the middle of March and April.

It seems odd to me that there are people in my graduating class that I’ve never met despite having gone to the same school as them for at least four years.

I honestly can’t help but wonder what could have happened if just one of my classes was different or if I had taken a different way to get to class just once.

All of this aside, don’t get too caught up in the craziness of the next few months that you forget where you came from.

One day, you’re going to look back at these as the good old days so make sure you enjoy them while you can.