Wow, you did it. Congratulations! Seems like just yesterday you were playing tag on the field with your friends during recess or getting lost on your seemingly huge campus on the first day of high school, doesn’t it?

And now those days are in the past. High school is over. Four incredible years, a wild journey of ups and downs. Hell, maybe it still hasn’t hit you that you’re done. It’s crazy how fast time flies.

For most of us, high school ebbed and flowed on a daily basis. It was a time of self-discovery but mostly just consisted of going through the motions and trying to get good grades, maintain friend circles, and work your way up the popularity ladder.

(In all honesty, college is shaping up to be similar but with more self-discovery and substantially less focus on what others think of you.)

We’ve all got fond memories of high school, but it probably was not the best time of your life – definitely not the best four years of your life, which is good because it means that they have yet to come.

However, no matter how much you tell yourself you hated high school someday you will miss it. You’ll miss the teachers, your friends, maybe the campus, and especially the simplicity of it all. Oh, the simplicity. It sure didn’t seem like it then, but high school was such a carefree and simple time. Those carefree days aren’t over just yet, luckily.

Immediately in front of you lies one of the greatest summers you will ever have. The first summer where you’re truly free, with next to nil responsibilities other than perhaps a summer job at the local ice cream place. I encourage you to make the most of your summer vacation and spend as much time as possible with friends and family, cramming memories in before the next chapter of your life begins. Of course, make sure to savor moments and have some lazy days, too.

Soak up the long summer nights and cherish every little moment. You may ask, why am I so concerned about you enjoying this summer? It’s sad to say, but this is essentially your last summer as a kid. That being said, live it up.

Even though this may be the last summer where you can do anything you want with whoever you want, there is no need to despair. You’ve got a bright future ahead of you: maybe a university, a community college, the military, or even trade school. You’re excited, nervous, and curious all in one. You’ve got so much going for you.

While I can’t speak for the other paths you might take, college is a completely different ballgame in comparison to high school. Maybe you’ll love your first year, maybe you won’t. No matter the case, you’ll always remember your high school days.

When you come back home for winter break and visit your high school to see your favorite teachers and seniors, nostalgia will set in. You’ll see sophomore you walking down the halls or senior you cheering at the last home basketball game. Stronger than the sense of nostalgia you’ll experience, though, will be the feeling of peace because of how you’ve grown and changed for the better since high school. You’ll feel proud of the person you’re becoming, which you should because you’ve come a long way over the years and you’re still growing.

High school was a good run, but you’re ready for more and better things to come. Go tackle the world. It’s yours, graduate.