Dear High School Senior,

The time has finally come where all your hard work will finally pay off. On graduation day you'll double check that your graduation cap is decorated to perfection and you'll wonder where the time went while your mom can't stop crying. It is one of the most bittersweet days because you're saying goodbye to the last four years of your life and moving on to bigger and better things.

You and your friends will be in shock that the day you've been counting down to came so quickly. You'll reminisce on all the memories you and your friends made while simultaneously wishing time could just slow down. You'll look back and make fun of your terrible fashion sense from freshmen year. You and your friends will talk about the teachers that you'll miss, and the ones that you won't miss. You will laugh at all the crazy things you did and the inside jokes you guys made and you'll wonder about the friends you'll make in college.

When you look around on graduation day you'll see all your classmates that you grew up with and it will finally sink in that everyone is going their separate ways, it'll be the last time you are all in the same place together as high school students. While you're listening to all the speeches being given as you sweat in your cap and gown take the time to look around and appreciate how far you've come and be proud of where you're going. Whether it's college on the other side of the country, a college closer to home, community college, or if you plan on joining the workforce straight out of high school.

So as you sit there on graduation day think of all the things you still have to look forward to. Just because you're no longer a high school student doesn't mean you can't still spend the summer with your high school friends making more memories before everyone goes there separate ways for college. Go on a road trip, go to the beach, have a bonfire, make a scrapbook filled with pictures of you and your friends to take with you to college so you don't forget some of the people that helped you get through those four years.

As you walk through the halls one last time think about the bright future ahead of you and how successful you'll be if you work hard enough. Don't forget to thank your parents for everything they've done for you, all the nights they stayed up helping you with elaborate science projects, our when your parents waited for you to get home from your first date. These are the memories that will last a lifetime and there are only more to come.

Congrats Grad!

(Whippany Park ;) )