Congratulations! You did it! All the schooling, effort, extracurricular activities and everything else in between have led up to this point. Graduation. You should be so proud of yourself! With only a few weeks left of school, there are some things you must remember before you leave.

One of the most important things you do before you graduate is to reflect on your past 12 or so years. You have come so far in life, and I can guarantee you there is no way you did it all alone. Thank those who have helped you along the way! This could include but is not limited to, your teachers, parents, friends, or coaches. It's important to tell those who have had an impact on you and your life that they are appreciated! Reflecting is not just thanking those who have helped you along the way. Reflecting on your past is acknowledging how far you have come, and being proud of yourself!

Whether it was a smooth sail or a rocky road along the way, you got through it all. You pushed yourself to your limits, and you grew as a person along the way. Acknowledge this progress and be proud of yourself!

Before you leave, enjoy your last few weeks! I understand how excited you are for college because I was too. You may be ready for summer and for the next chapter of your life, but don't forget to enjoy your last moments of high school!

College changes many things, including who your friends are and who you spend your time with, so enjoy your time with your friends. Hopefully, they will continue to be part of your next chapter in life, but it's sadly never a guarantee. Enjoy your time with a set schedule, because soon it will become much more complicated. Enjoy living with your family, because even if you don't think you will, you will miss them worse than you could ever imagine. Enjoy every single little thing, because soon everything will be different.

Lastly, before you leave you must remember that life will not necessarily go exactly as you planned. You may end up not loving the college that you chose to go to. Things might not work out with the roommate you chose to live with, or you may not end up loving the major you have dreamed of for your whole life. The job you decide to take instead of going to college may not be a fit for you, or things may not work out with the person you thought you would marry.

No matter what the circumstances may be, it's okay! It's okay for things to not work out or go as planned. That only makes for more learning opportunities! It may suck at the time, but it will all work out for the best in the future! Just remember in advance, things will not always work out as planned, but it will all be okay in the end.

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and institution...

Stay hungry. Stay foolish."

-Steve Jobs

Sincerely,

A recent college freshman