It has been a full year for the class of 2015 since we walked across that stage. As we start to slowly pack up, say our goodbyes, and start to head home we know our home town will not be the same. All of our friends are spread out across the state and the country. We all hope for our summer reunions. Although not everyone is coming home. Some are staying for summer classes, some are traveling, and some may have moved far away. Your town may not be full of the Sonic runs or the Mexican dates you are used to, but one thing is for sure... You will always long for the summer after graduation.
You were not worried about a job, or school, or a family. It was just you and your friends singing at the top of your lungs, random beach trips, or just sitting in a backyard looking at he skies. As you pull into your driveway and your parents greet you with hugs just remember this is a special time for them. They miss you... a lot. They miss the way you came home from school and talked about your day or your extracurricular activities. Take this summer to talk to your parents, make some extra money, and see some old friends. Although nothing will beat the summer of 2015 this summer is your first as a college kid. Make it count. You do not have to travel halfway across the world to make it fun.
Go to the mall that used to be the hangout spot, go to a local lake, or just visit places that bring back memories because one day it is not going to be that easy to come back to this town. As much as we all wanted to get out of our town the memories were ones we will never forget. As we drive by our high school and think about the memories we made just look back and smile. All the laughs, tears, the embarrassing moments, and all of the triumphs. Four years or more in this town, and now so much has changed. This year is going to different than the past with feelings of loneliness happiness and joy we look at our town and we stand proud.
Proud to say this is where I grew up, and where I made my mark. As Jason Aldean says "We laid a lot of memories down, like tattoos on this town."
