Dear (Second Semester) Senior Year Me,

It feels like only a year ago that at this time it was going to take an eternity for me to get here. I know you're having the time of your life between spirit week, prom, and preparing for graduation. I also know that you’re stressing about deciding on a college right now. A lot of your friends already know where they are headed next year but you have no clue. While not knowing where next year is is going to take you is definitely a stressor, don't let that take away from the time you have now, because the end of senior year really is a time like no other.

I can promise you right now that you are going to love where you end up deciding to go. You're first few months at school will be weird, but in the best way possible. You grow up rather quickly because you're pretty much fending for yourself. You're going to get involved in some groups, and end up not staying in other groups. You're going to fail a test that you studied really hard for. Oh, and you’re going to change your major within the first couple months of school. So don’t get too caught up on what you originally decided on.

Yes, you're going to miss your family and yes you are going to miss your bed, but you end up going home more often than you think you are going to. You're only just a drive away from a home-cooked meal.

As far as friends go, you have a pretty wonderful group of high school friends. I know most of them are going to a different school than you are, but don’t worry about that because you’ll soon find that they are more than just high school friends, but lifelong friends.

You’re going to meet a ton of new people who live their lives very differently than you, and you’re going to be thrown out of your comfort zone. You’re going to encounter types of people you have never encountered before, but that’s just a part of the whole college experience.

However, some of these people you meet will end up spending time with you every day, and when you’re not together you’re texting in your group chat. They become your ‘fam’ and you’re going to have fam dinners and fam brunches that will make you laugh to no end. Sure, they aren’t your best friends you have now, but they are just as hilarious, crazy, and loyal.

So stop worrying about what the next year has to bring because trust me, it’s better than you could ever imagine. You can’t control a lot of what’s going to happen and it’s not always going to be good, but God has your back and His timing is absolutely perfect. So enjoy your last few months being a senior in high school. And while I often joke about peaking in high school, that’s not even close to being true. There are so many big opportunities that college is going to bring. This next year is going to be a rollercoaster, so my best advice to you is to just throw your hands up and enjoy the ride.