Dear Seniors,

Congratulations! You’ve almost made it through high school! While I know from experience this is an exciting time, I wanted to give you all a little piece of advice, from a rising college sophomore who was in your shoes exactly one year ago.

I get it, you are so close to being done with high school that you just can’t wait to get out. Each day spent in the classroom feels like an eternity, and you really couldn’t care less about your classes or teachers anymore.

Do yourself a favor though, and try to enjoy your last few days of high school. I know you don’t want to be there, but try making the most of the time you spend there. Once you walk out those doors for the last time, you never have to go back, and all that’s left are the memories you made. You don’t want your last few memories of high school to be awful.

While making the most of your time in the classroom, also make the most of your time outside of it. Spend quality time with your friends before you graduate and head separate ways. It can be something as simple as having a movie night or spending a day sightseeing. Whatever you decide to do, make the most of it.

But while you are spending time with your friends, don’t forget about your family. They are all so excited for you to move into college and begin a new chapter, but they’re also going to miss you a lot. Don’t forget to make time for them too, they’ll appreciate it immensely come move-in day.

If you’re going to a school that’s far away from home where you will know absolutely no one, spend time connecting with people in your class through social media. That way, you’ll know people right away, and it will make the transition easier. I didn’t do this, but I really wish I had. I would have been way less lonely the first few weeks.

And lastly, make time for yourself! You’re about to embark on a brand new journey; nothing like what you have ever done before. It can be scary, and you won’t get much alone time, so try to get some now to prepare yourself for the next year.

With all this in mind, I’m going to be honest and say college is much better than high school. I haven’t met a single person who said they prefer high school over college, and that is saying something. Get ready for an amazing year, I promise it’s worth the wait.

Love,

A College Sophomore