The month of May is an exciting one. Spring is finally here, the weather becomes nicer and school starts to come to an end. However, May is the most exciting month for high school seniors. Class day, awards banquets, sometimes prom, class trips, and graduation. I was looking at my Snapchat the other day and as I saw some of my younger friends taking pictures of their last day of school, I realized that was me only a year ago.

One year ago I was sitting on the stage of the school auditorium listening to 'remember whens' and class superlatives. It was only a year ago that I was receiving my cap and gown and thinking how I would be boiling in it during the graduation ceremony. I was cleaning out my locker and throwing away countless gum wrappers and old worksheets only a year ago. Taking the finals I was not exempt from and then going out to lunch with my friends only happened a year ago. One year ago, I graduated high school.

Now, I am finished with my first year of college and as cliché as it may sound but a lot can happen in a year. In one year: new friendships are made, views are changed, lessons are learned, new songs are released, friendships are broken, mistakes are forgotten, books are read, grades are given, papers are written, tests are taken, goals are achieved, wishes are composed, ideas are generated and memories are made. It seems like quite a bit for one year, or maybe not enough. A lot can happen and change in a year and I am reminded of that as I see my friends who were once juniors graduate.

Regardless of whatever path one chooses in life, it is evident that there will be changes and adaptations in that first year. Whether a person decides to go to college, join the workforce, enlist in the military or take a year off, that person will realize that the first year after high school is filled with new surprises. You will not realize how much has changed until you see that it is time for high school graduation and remember the person you were, the people you were friends with, the goals you had, the mistakes you made, and the memories you made only one short year ago.

So, to all of the graduating seniors—make your year count. Enjoy the memories you have made now and cherish each and every one of the people that have helped you get to where you are. Perhaps in one year, you will be looking at high school graduation in a similar way.