Your first semester of your senior year is coming to an end. You've either decided on a college or have it narrowed down, you're filling out scholarship applications, counting down the days to when you walk across that stage. This semester has probably seemed like it has lasted a year instead of five months. I know all of this, because a year ago I was you. I know you're dying to get out, but stop wishing it away, because you will miss it.
1. School only gets harder from here. Now, college is not as hard as teachers like to make you think it is, but it sure isn't easy. Enjoy the classes you have now.
2. Professors aren't always as understanding. Professors aren't all that bad, but they sure aren't as understanding as Mrs. Smith or that history teacher you simply call "Coach." I promise "My printer broke," won't always work in college.
3. The food normally sucks. I know high school cafeteria food isn't any good, but you can go home to a home-cooked meal. Enjoy your parents's cooking now.
4. You currently have the right amount of freedom. It may seem like your parents are always killing your vibe, but you get to college and all of a sudden the only person responsible for you, is you. Mom and Dad aren't here to make sure you do the right thing and that gets scary.
5. Dorm life is not the sweet life. You could get stuck with a crazy roommate, community showers or a dorm where the fire alarms seems to go off every week. Plus there is nothing XL about a twin XL bed.
6. Sleep is a rare and beautiful thing. You'll have many late nights and you will be setting alarms for naps that last 16 minutes, just so you can function. I didn't get too much sleep in high school, but I certainly got more than I do now.
7. You spend a lot of time alone. You will eat alone, go to class alone, be in your dorm alone. While alone time is great, it takes a little bit of time to get used to it.
8. Homesickness is a very real thing. I love college and I'm only an hour away, but there are days were I would kill to be sitting in my living room at home, watching Food Network with my parents.
9. College is an emotional roller coaster. You'll be having a great time, until you're midway through screaming "Trap Queen" and you remember you have a five-page paper due in two days. College is where you can have the greatest time of your life while also secretly wishing that a campus car doesn't stop when you're going across the cross walk.
10. After high school, it all changes. Your best friends from home become distant, your home becomes your campus and you become a new person. You find new people and you find yourself. You thought you had it all figured out, but then you wake up one morning and realize that you actually have no idea what you're doing.
Don't get me wrong, I love college. I love the late nights and the new friends and my campus and my sorority, but I wish I had taken the time to enjoy high school more. I miss my friends and my teachers and Friday nights spent in the bleachers. I was one of those people who wanted to get out and never look back once, but I look back more often than I thought I would.
I know you've heard it a thousand times, but seriously, enjoy high school while you can. Go to every game you can, go to every event, stay up and watch the sunrise with your best friends. I get it, you can't wait to get out, but some day you'll be wishing you could go back in, even just for a little bit.
