Dear High School Seniors, Has Anyone Ever Told You?

Dear High School Seniors,

Has anyone ever told you that...

Your life is about to change immensely. Enjoy every second you have in the halls of your high school whether you love it or hate it. You'll never get these moments back.

These aren't the best four years of your life. Frankly, maybe college won't be either, but that doesn't mean that this phase of your life isn't important. This is all part of your story and what's coming will always come. Graduation day will be here before you know it, so make sure you're content with everything you did before that.

You're not as cool as you think you are. But that's okay. Just embrace it. Your confidence will be shot again the second you get to college.

You're going to miss your family when you move out. A lot. I genuinely still miss my mom waking me up in the morning and saying goodbye to my siblings while running out the door. Hug your parents every chance you get and spend a few extra time talking to your siblings about their days. It's not so easy to do over text when you're miles away.

You'll miss your hometown too. Even if you absolutely hate it and can't wait to get away right now, I promise there will come a time in the future when all you'll want is to be home in the safety net you loved so much.

It's important to be present and enjoy every event with your friends. Prom, basketball games, spirit events, senior skip day, etc. Even if you think they're dumb, I promise they'll be some of the best memories you'll have from these years.

Other people's opinions don't matter. I cannot stress this enough. Be who you are, say what you need to say, and stop trying to impress everyone. Labels are for the birds.

Your grades really don't matter that much. Quit stressing about your Calculus or Chemistry exam. No one cares if you were a high school genius in college.

Time flies. If you think the past four years have gone by quickly, you're in for a wild ride come college. Take it as slow as you can and appreciate every moment.

Thank your teachers and administrators who have helped you along the way. To be completely honest, your future professors probably won't care for you as much as your teachers do right now. Tell them thanks and let them know how much you appreciated all of their work, they don't hear it enough.

Hang out with your people often. Eat at your favorite restaurant, drive around town and visit all of your favorite spots. You'll never all be in the same space so regularly ever again.

Life is about to get really tricky. Change is always difficult. Appreciate the simplicity and routine that you have right now. You'll miss it when it's gone.