Hey, it's me.

I just graduated from high school a month ago, and I'm moving away to college in about a month and a half.

But you, 2012 me, are about to begin the most amazing four-year journey. You're about to leave the school you called home for 10 years and start over in a place that will literally change your life for good.

I know you're scared. You're anxious and you're nervous and you're dreading the thought that you won't make it--you won't make any friends, you'll fail your classes and you'll amount to nothing. This is the first time you've ever stepped outside your comfort zone, and you have no idea what it's like out there.

So, let me tell you.

You're going to meet your best friends in your first semester. You'll think they're a little annoying at first, but just get used to it. They're still going to be here to annoy you three years later. You'll meet countless people that come from a million different backgrounds than you and you'll learn more about life in the next 180 days than you ever imagined.

You're going to trip up the stairs walking to your US Government class on your first day, by the way.

Now, your sophomore year will be different. On your eighth day of school, you'll transfer back to your old school with all your old friends and teachers—and you really won't know why. You're going to have to adjust to the old ways of the school, because now you know some things that they don't. But that's okay, they'll learn from you eventually if you speak up.

Tenth grade will be confusing. You'll feel like the new kid from the time you walk in on the first day to the day you walk out for summer, even though you're surrounded by the people and places that helped you grow from the time you were four. You'll have mixed emotions about leaving your friends, but don't worry. It all works out in the next few years.

Also, you'll dye your hair blue. And you won't regret it.

Oh, and stop worrying about boys. A boyfriend won't get you a 3.82 GPA and a college acceptance, so.

Junior year will be difficult. You'll have the hardest schedule you'll have out of these four years. You're going to hate chemistry... so much.

But, the fall and winter of 2014-2015 are going to be incredible. You're going to spend so many nights just driving and running around town with your best friends. You'll come to love the feeling of driving down the interstate at midnight with all the windows down with your best friend in the driver's seat. You won't realize it then, but you're going to want those days back. And you'll wrap up the year with (almost) all A's, but guess what?

You'll pass chemistry.

Senior year will go by faster than you can imagine. You're going to work on yourself and learn to love the skin you're in. Your class will end up feeling like family to you, and you're going to be buddy-buddy with a few of the administrators. And believe me, that's going to help you when midterms roll around.

You're going to get accepted to Georgia College and State University. I know you've never heard of it, but believe me, you're going to fall in love with it.

Now, listen to me carefully.

These days will never come back again, and they will fly by if you blink. You'll watch all your friends get accepted to their dream schools and eventually, you'll walk across that stage and get your diploma. It won't hit you then, but as soon as you walk away from graduation, you'll realize you're leaving most of the people you called family behind for good. You'll close a chapter of your life you never thought you'd miss. But with the end of that chapter comes a new one, and then this cycle will start over again. Your future is brighter than you ever imagined.

So, from your high school graduate self, take a breath and get ready. It's about to be a wild four years.

Love, Emily