We've all been there. Our last semester of high school. The end of one, grueling, difficult era that was somehow also the best time of your life thus far. When I look back on the second semester of my senior year in high school, it all seems like such a blur.
If it wasn't for you, my younger sister, I truly don't think I could remember much at all. But there are a few things I wish I could tell you that I can't ever seem to put into the right words, that I can only express by writing as I sit in my bed and sob at the thought of you walking across the graduation stage.
Don't wish it away
I know it sucks. I know life right now can unreasonable, unfair, and no one understands. But trust me, you're going to miss this. Any time you hear yourself think "I can't wait to get out of here" stop yourself. This is the last few months of ever truly living at home. This is the last few months of ever truly being a kid. And most importantly, these are the last few months that you don't have to cook for yourself.
Eat all of the home cooked food you can
While we're on the topic of food, I feel an obligation to reiterate this, even though I know I remind you every time you skip dinner to go eat tacos with your friends. You have no idea how much cooking every meal for yourself sucks.
Even worse than that, you have no idea how terrible meal plan food is. When it comes to food, it is truly the only thing I can tell you will never, ever, get better than what you have right now. So the next time you want to miss a home cooked meal, stop yourself. You owe it to me as I sit in my kitchen eating bland chicken and butter noodles for the 7th night in a row.
Realize when something is a "last," and take advantage of it
Something I wish someone would have told me is that your last semester of high school is the "lasts" for a lot of things. If I could go back, I would take advantage of them - and this is exactly what I wish for you. This is the last time you will know people in your classrooms. You'll go from knowing everyone, to not knowing a soul. This is the last time that anyone will motivate you to go to class and study for exams. Most of your college professors couldn't care less. But don't let this stress you out too much - the best thing about this long semester of "lasts" is that you have no idea all of the "firsts" you're about to experience the second you walk on to your college campus.
You will never be this skinny again
Please, for me, don't ask me why your skin is so fat. I know you don't really mean it, but at this point, it's insulting.
Don't let anyone rain on your parade
You have one semester left to live our your high school years. One. As fast as it came and went, your four years has turned into four months. I promise you that once you get away from our hometown and take time to reflect, the only thing that you will regret is letting people hurt you and ruin the small amount of time that you have to spend at home. You owe it to yourself to rid your life of any toxic persons. You owe it to me. Don't kid yourself either - if it hasn't gotten any better, it's not going to. Focus on yourself. Focus on having fun. And if anyone has a problem with that, you've probably already spent far too much time worrying about them anyways.
School really isn't as serious as you think
I don't mean it's fine to fail your classes - you can lose your scholarships - but you can almost certainly try a significant amount less than you ever have before (as long as you're not enrolled in college courses - then this definitely doesn't apply.) Once you are enrolled in college, you really don't get to slack off. Ever. My senior year, I focused far too much on maintaining perfect grades, even when I really didn't have to. Keep good grades, but don't kill yourself doing it. This is your time to relax a little, have fun with your friends, and maybe skip a few school days to go to the beach in the process.
Stay home with mom and dad - you won't die if you stay in on a Saturday night
You cannot fathom how much you will miss our parents. You cannot fathom how much you will miss our dogs. And you have absolutely no idea how upsetting it is to sleep in a dorm bed every single night. When I look back on this time, I regret not staying in more and spending time with our family. I promise you won't regret not going to Sally's house - because pretty soon, that's all you'll have to do. Once you're in college, your friends become your family. They are the people you come home to, and the people that you go out with. Take advantage of the time you have when you live with your parents - way too soon, you will only have a few months a year to do this, rather than any given night.
It's not the end of the world
No matter what happens, know that it will be okay. I wish I would've believed this myself when I was your age. If anyone betrays you, they're doing you a favor - you don't have to waste your time being their friend any longer. If you break up with a boy - say thank you to them too, because you're gonna have way more fun without them focusing on your friends, family, and yourself. Pretty soon, you're going to have an entire new life. None of this will matter. So don't let the little time you have left be ruined by something that, in the grand scheme of things, is insignificant - even for a second.
Stop taking so many naps!!!
Seriously, just go to bed earlier or drink some coffee.
Talk to your teachers
High school teachers - especially those who choose to teach seniors - are truly special people. Most importantly, they probably have the most valuable advice you will ever get. Your teachers truly care about you, even when it doesn't seem that way. Why else would they sign up for this? Talk to them whenever you can, because you're going to miss having teachers that care for you.
You don't have to have it all figured out right now
No one knows what they want to do for the rest of their lives before they even start college. If they claim to, they're lying. You'll figure it out.
High school is not the best four years of your life
Whoever said that did not go to college. That being said, don't wish these years away - once they're gone, you can't get them back. But don't look back on the past four years and think that that's as good as it's gonna get.
Don't be scared - be excited
Every once in a while you might find yourself on the verge of a mental breakdown thinking about how much your life is about to change. Though I can't stop that from happening, take comfort in the fact that this is life. Everyone goes through it. And you have me to help you.
Most importantly, if all else fails, know that I love you more than you'll ever know.
You will really never know how much I love you. I can't remember my life before you were born - and thank God I can't - because I can't imagine how lonely it was. I have watched you walk in my footsteps and my only hope is that you learn from my mistakes and listen to my advice, even when it feels like I'm just complaining. Know that any time I try to help you, even if it may be something you don't want to hear, it is because I love you more than anyone else in this world. You're my best friend, and you're about to start the best four years of your life - and you have no idea how excited I am for you.
