All of your life you’ve probably heard that high school is going to be “the best years of your life” and for some that is true and for some, it’s not. As I had the time of my life in high school, I’m having an even better time in college, so for those who have not experienced “the best years of your life” yet, don’t worry, they are approaching you faster than you think.

Seniors, the first thing I want to say is, don’t rush yourself through high school. Go out, have fun, do unforgettable things, make an inspirational senior quote, go to all the sports events that you can, go to prom, go to that freshman’s thing they asked you to come to just because they look up to you, but most importantly, make memories with the ones you love the most. You are currently at the top, but soon you will be back at the bottom. Take time to make sure you make “your year” the best you can make it.

Everyone expects to still talk to everyone they went to highschool with after graduation, but that is not true. Some of your best friends that you’ve made over the past 13 years are also some of the people that you may never talk to again and that you only know how they are doing in life because of their social media. Some of the people I graduated with, I wouldn’t even know where they are for sure if it wasn’t for social media, and it’s sad because I never thought I’d lose contact with them. My best friend through high school and I barely even talk anymore, but that’s how life is. Don’t expect to always hear from them. Don’t expect to always hang out when you get home, or even when you have time. People take different roads for a reason, choose the best path for you and be willing to let go if you have to.

To the current high school seniors, no matter how far you are into the school year, it’s not too late. Be kind, do something that will inspire the ones who look up to you, tell your favorite teacher that you’re thankful you got to have them, but most importantly, make sure you find yourself so you know what you want after graduation. Whatever you decide to do, your family and your friends will be proud of you. This next chapter of your life is all about you, make sure you know who you are.

As it gets closer to graduation for you, it’s OK for everything to suddenly to start to become bitter sweet. You’ll start to realize that everyone in your chemistry class aren’t just “people in your chemistry class,” but people that you’ve spent a whole year with in the same class. Whether you cafeteria food is good or not, you’ll start to realize that you’ll miss the chicken nuggets and fries because nobody can make them as nasty but as wonderful as the lunch ladies whose names you may not even know. I know you’re probably thinking “that’ll never be me,” but I thought the same thing and about two weeks before graduation, it hit. This is the last time you’ll have or do some of the stuff that is around now. Take it in and enjoy all of it.

Friendships are the one thing that may keep you together at the end of the year. Don’t rush to be out of it, don’t start to get tired of each other too early. Don’t be happy to be out of school because you don’t have to see the “person you absolutely hate” anymore, but take time to figure out if they were actually as bad as you thought. Make commitments to try to reconnect as much as you can with the ones that meant the most to you. Tell that underclassmen that if you can you’ll come to their game, concert, show or whatever they may have going on.

This is your last chance to make your mark, make it a good one. This is your last chance to be remember as whatever you want to be remembered as, so do whatever it takes. You may think that you’re not getting out fast enough, but you are getting out a lot faster than you thought you were. As said on One Tree Hill, “One day, you’re 17 and you’re planning for someday. And then quietly, without you ever really noticing, someday is today. And then someday is yesterday. And this is your life.” I know you don’t want to believe it, but this is the best quote to explain senior year. It goes by faster than you think and you’ll soon lose what you thought you’d never lose, so why rush it even more? Take the time, be kind, have fun, make memories, and enjoy your last year.