Dear underclassman whose best friends are graduating,
While the clock is ticking down towards summer days, you anxiously wait. While you love the idea of sitting by the pool, eating Doritos and not having to worry about papers, you are faced with the unthinkable, the inevitable, the very sad event... your friends are graduating. Up until this point, having older friends never seemed like a problem. If anything, it was an added bonus. You automatically went from being a lowly underclassman to a respected individual. They have cars and, more importantly, licenses. They have experience, and give great advice. They told you which teacher to take classes from, what to wear to winter formal, and they always gave you a smile in the hallway. Having older friends are great! Until it's time for them to graduate.
You tried to deny the fact all year that they were actually seniors. Football season came and went, then the brutally long winter, then spring came and there was a new pep in their step. They started talking about where they are going to college, and shared their fears about random roommates. They bought dresses for their grad parties and took selfies when their cap and gowns came in. It hit you, your friends are graduating.
They promise you everything will stay the same. You promise to come and visit! You watch them walk across the stage and try not to ugly cry because you know that in a few months you will no longer have them by your side.
To be honest, things do change. More than likely you will not visit, you won't be as close. You start another year of high school and are engrossed in your own little world. They move off to college and are consumed by this new and exciting adventure. You see their selfies with their new college besties and how much fun they are having. You will get a little sad.
But don't worry, underclassman whose friends are graduating. There is a light in all of this. No matter what happens, where they go to college, what they do there, what you do in high school, who you meet. There will always be a special bond between you. They will still want to be a part of your life. They will ask about who is dating who. What classes you are taking, what the prom theme is. They will still text you when they see something on Facebook that reminds them of your inside joke. You will still hug it out when you finally reconnect.
Yes, life will be different. Those first few weeks of school without them, you will look like a lost puppy. You may not text as much or have a snap streak with them But they are still your friend. Change is hard, but change is necessary. So enjoy these last few weeks with your friends, and remember, nothing can change what you had.
