This letter is something I decided to write for my best friend while he was struggling through college applications and deciding where to go. It documents the real life struggles, trials, and in the end, tribulations, of any high school senior who will be soon graduating and moving on to college. Even though we may be college students, leaving the days of high school behind, we still have that one friend who needs to finish the journey and that we need to be there to support.
Hi. I know that you’re hurting, and I know that the world, your parents, school, is getting crazy and you’re feeling so many different things. But I believe in you, and I don’t want you to give up. You might want to cry that things are falling to pieces, and that the world is turning its dark side on you, but I’m here. I’ve always been here, and I know that I’m not a drive away anymore, but, I’m still here. I know you can get through this, because you’ve gotten through so much before.
You braved three years of high school, you can brave this one. It may seem like the hardest year, but it’s because the end result is worth it. I don’t ever want you to feel like quitting, like falling asleep forever just to get by your parents constantly yelling at you or breathing down your back. I don’t want to lose you forever. I know you might want to lose your parents, but I don’t want you to lose your best friend too.
I still need you, I only get so much time with you left before you actually leave for college. I can’t even begin to imagine the day you’ll leave. You’ll be three hundred miles away, and I’ll be here, not knowing if you’re okay. What if you got drunk? What if you kissed a girl? I’d never know, because I’m three hundred miles away. I can’t stretch my hand that far to give you a touch on the shoulder and say to you, “Make smart choices.” All I can do is say that on a text message that you may or may not remember, depending on how many vodka shots you took that night.
Don’t go into the dark. That world that ends for good. I’m not ready for you to be free. I’m not ready to lose you. I’m not ready to say goodbye. I want to be there for you, when you’re living through this storm. I wish I could be there and hold you while you cried. I wish I could be there and say that I’m here, don’t worry, I’ll always be here.
Don’t say goodbye yet, I can’t come to save the day yet. Please remember, that as you go to college, as excited as you are for this day to come, please never forget where you came from, the people that helped you get there and the support you will continue to have. You may be scared, but you should also be excited of this great new future. I know you can do great things.
With love,
Your best friend.
