Dear Seniors,
Can you believe it? Your time is almost up. These past four years have passed so quickly you almost can't wrap your head around it. Think back to four years ago, when you entered this intimidatingly large high school, with kids who looked so old you almost couldn’t believe they were students. Think back to four years ago, when you would hustle to class and shove every textbook in your backpack because you were afraid you wouldn’t have time to stop at your locker. Think back to four years ago, when you were so naive to think that your friends from middle school would stay the same. Think back four years ago, to when you met your first new friend, a friend that would become one of the most important people in your life. Your high school friends gave you advice, binge-watched Netflix with you, stayed up all night talking about the future with you, and helped mold you into the individual you are today. Thank them.
Now, let’s fast forward to Junior year. Your mind is jumbled with the stress of exams, the ACT, and high school sports. Suddenly, someone brings up the question of college and your mind goes into freak-out mode. College? Did that person just say college? Ha! Funny, considering I’m just a kid and have absolutely no idea how to cook a meal, let alone live on my own in a strange place with new people. Totally ignoring the constant questioning about your future, you struggled through junior year, and luckily made it out alive! Phew! The summer whirled by and suddenly it was senior year, your last year. Can you believe it? This is your last year in a school that had once seemed so daunting, but now looking around you everything seems so small.
Senior year is going to blow past you, so fast in fact that it will be over in the blink of an eye. After all it’s almost March...which gives you 2 more months of being a high school student, of being a kid. But it’s not all that bad, I know thoughts of what the future may hold cause you to lie awake at night, wondering what’s to come. But sometimes life throws you lemons and you really can't prepare for it. In the end the best thing you can do is just make lemonade. So when your time comes, and you are wearing your bright red robes and caps, look around you. Look around at the hundreds of people who have contributed to such an important part of your life. Look at your friends, who watched you grow and helped you in infinite ways. I just have one piece of advice: When you walk across that stage and receive your diploma, take a big breath. In that moment, I want you to take everything in, because after that moment is gone your life is going to change. You will be scared because the future is unknown, but you will also be excited because your future’s so bright. You can now be whoever you want to be, and you can do whatever you put your mind to. So when that time comes for you to graduate, I want you to be ready for whatever is going to come next.
Lastly, I would just like to say congratulations to the Class of 2016, you truly are one of a kind. The world will welcome you with open arms, so embrace it. Embrace the unknown because I can promise you that there will be so many amazing things wrapped up in your future. Now, go ahead and step across that stage and remember to breathe.
