A Letter To The New High School Graduate

To high school students graduating in 2016,

This is a very exciting time of your life! Once you walk across that stage you are taking the path from high school to being independent.

Just one year ago, I graduated high school. Although a year definitely flies by, there is so much that can happen. You will most likely change, go through experiences that you would never expect, and grow through the process.

Graduating high school is a huge step, so con-grad-ulations! Your four years of gross cafeteria food and using a tiny locker is finally over. You are no longer required to attend school, you no longer have to get up at 6:30 every morning to get into homeroom by 7:30. You no longer have to deal with the cliques that surround you in the hallways, this is a brand new start.

You may feel as if you know exactly what you want to do, and if you do that's fantastic, but chances are a lot of you may feel confused, pressured, or lost in deciding what to do now that your high school career is over. To start off, you need to keep in mind that it's okay if you don't know what to do with your life. You are 18 years old, you are not supposed to know. Maybe you are stressed because you still don't know where you want to go to college, or even if you want to go to college. Maybe you are struggling to figure out what you want to major in, or maybe you are just scared to see what the future holds.

Well have no fear! Life is a learning experience. The greatest part about this time of your life is you really have the chance to learn about yourself. You get to spend the summer relaxing and hanging with your greatest friends, then you get to start a brand new journey in the fall. You may start at a University and think you will love it, just to find out a few months in that it's not really for you. This is okay! You deserve to be at a location where you feel safe and happy. Take it from a girl who experienced this, you will be better off taking some time to figure out what you really want instead of trying to convince yourself that you belong in a place that isn't for you.

This summer make sure to spend time with all of the people you care about, go to every grad party that you are able to attend. Make amends with the people you had struggles with in the past, and let go of those who are toxic to your present and future. Spend time with your family, even if you aren't going far away to college, you will still miss them.

Most importantly, remember that you can accomplish whatever you put your mind to. Whether you want to go straight to college, take a year off and travel, or you want to work full time, you will come across obstacles that will require you to grow as a person, and in the end everything will turn out the way it is supposed to. So once again, congratulations! Go eat some graduation cake and cry over high school musical with your friend, and of course good luck on your new journey!