My beautiful, strong, intelligent best friend, please never lose sight of how far you've come and how incredible your accomplishments are. A year ago, I was in your shoes. Therefore I know how overwhelmed you are. There’s so much on your mind. Senior year is so stressful and you always feel like you’re behind or missing something. It's so easy to think about what is going wrong, or even just not as planned even though things are progressing and looking up a lot of the time.

Classes are difficult and the workload is insane. Everything is moving faster than even you can comprehend. You've heard the hard part is over. You've applied to all your colleges and taken the SAT and ACT. Yet, somehow you're still stressed. Everyone is telling you to “live in the moment” and “enjoy everyone’s company while you have it.” But they’re also saying things like “make sure all your forms are turned into the office,” and “graduation is only ___ days away.”

The pressure is on to get everything done, pay for everything from the prom dress to cap and gown. It all takes time, patience, and money that you never feel you have enough of. New deadlines approach just as soon as you've met another one. You blink and suddenly it feels like you've missed three days of spring semester.

With a nervous and anxious smile, you push through it. You’re making all the decisions that seem so life-altering. Where to go. What to do when you get there. Do you want to share a shoebox-sized room with a stranger or someone you barely knew in middle school? Which meal plan will be not too much food but not starve you either?

It’s exciting but it’s also driving you insane. I want nothing more than to hold your hand and reassure you everything is okay. You were there for me when I went through it all a year ago and nothing pains me more than not being there with you through it all. But I hope when it becomes too hard to manage, you’re praying out your frustrations and that you always trust your gut.

You don’t have to have everything figured out right now and all at once. Most don’t, they’re just pretending they do. When things are falling into place, you’ll feel it and you’ll know what to do. I trust you to make the decision that is best for you. You’re so smart and so capable. With the head and heart God blessed you with, you can change the world.

I want you to know that you have my support through everything and whenever you need advice or to complain or vent, I’m all ears. You should never worry too much with me by your side. I know how all of it feels and I’m beside you every step of the way.