Dear Class of 2016,

You're probably all so excited. You are almost done, out of high school forever. You're never going to your locker again, where you would meet friends before and in-between class. You're never going to hang out in your favorite teacher's classroom again. You're never going to savor all 40 minutes of lunch time again. You're never going to attend Friday night football games again. You won't see your best friends every day anymore.

These are the things that will become part of your past but have been a huge part of your life. You're ready to move onto bigger and better things and leave high school behind. But before you do that, I'm going to tell you one thing; cherish every last memory you are about to have. Do not wish away the rest of the school year.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not stuck in high school, and college is amazing, but my last memories of high school will be cherished forever. This is where I found my lifelong friends and had many first experiences. You should make sure to hug your friends every day, before you can't for months. As the next few weeks go by and your excitement for prom escalates, remember this: you will never be back here again. This is it, the real world is about to set in. So, before you go your separate ways, make sure to thank the teachers and people around you. Never forget to thank your parents for putting up with your awkward and bratty high school years (you will realize high school years are just as awkward as middle school years).

Now, as you spend your summer before college, remember a few things. Spend as much time as possible with friends and family, because you are about to go from seeing them every day to not seeing them for months at a time. Go to every favorite place of yours from home multiple times. If you are on bad terms with a friend or family, fix it. Make every last second you are home unforgettable.

When August rolls around and its time to pack up your car and say goodbye, remember this is a goodbye. You are about to start a new chapter in your life that holds some of the most amazing experiences. All of your friends and yourself are about to learn so much more than expected. College is a wonderful, exciting experience, so get prepared for some of the best memories of your life. Don't forget to call your parents and always thank them for this opportunity. Here's your time to find out more about yourself than you ever knew was possible. I told you to make every second of senior year count, now make every second of freshman year in college count even more.

From,

The College Freshman