The last few months of high school are filled with stress, excitement, and so much more. It's okay to feel overwhelmed. Here are some things to remember as you count down the days until graduation:
1. It's okay to not know where you want to go to college.
Although you've always thought that you'd find "the perfect school for you," that impossibly-perfect school may not actually exist. Keep your mind open and check out all of your options. Look at ones close to home, look at ones far from home, look at ones that none of your friends are looking at. You don't want to rule out any options, because you never know, that might become your dream school.
2. You can always change your major.
If you're still confused about what you want to major in, that's okay. Your first semester will be filled with prerequisites and mandatory first-year classes anyway. Once you get to school, check out some of the options available and even talk to your adviser or other students about what might be good for you. If you end up not liking it, you still have the option to change it.
3. You don't need a prom date.
Prom is often referred to as "the best night of your life." This doesn't mean that you need your crush as your date, a $500.00 dollar dress, and flawless hair and makeup. Your prom night will be what you make of it. There's no need to break the bank for just one night. Go to prom with your best friend, or if an unexpected someone asks you, go with them. You'll make their night, and they might surprise you and be the best friend you never knew you needed.
4. Appreciate your friends.
This may be one of the last times that you spend every hour of every day together. Enjoy the times that you guys have, even if it's just sitting together doing homework. You're going to miss them more than you can imagine when you all go off on your separate ways. Exchange addresses and send letters to each other to make sure you keep in touch. You'll never lose the bond or the memories that you guys share, this is just a new step in your lives that will just bring you closer in the end.
5. Be thankful for your family.
Never again will you roll your eyes at your parent's infamous weekly meal that you aren't the biggest fan of. Home-cooked meals are a luxury, so get as much of them in you as you can. Thank your parents for all that they're doing for you, because they'll probably miss you more than you'll miss them at first, but they are the ones who have raised you for the past 17 or 18 years. Spend a night in with them one weekend and soak up the love and homemade popcorn.
6. Be proud of yourself.
Look how far you've come. You've managed to learn the alphabet, make friends, write in cursive, read books, present projects, and so much more. You've really accomplished a lot. That is really something to be proud of. So smile! Buy yourself an ice cream or those shoes that you've been dying for. You deserve it.
7. Don't sweat the small stuff.
It's okay that you got a C on that last exam. This is just an excuse to push yourself to do better next time. You slept through your alarm and ended up wearing the same sweatshirt that you wore two days ago? Who cares! There's no need to stress yourself. These seemingly major events will be forgotten once summer rolls around.
8. Enjoy the last few months.
You're only in high school once. Make the most out of all your "lasts." Soon you'll miss the days of waking up at 6:30 a.m. right? Well, maybe not that part. But enjoy the moments you share with your classmates, friends, and teachers. End everything on a good note.
9. Save your money.
Although it's going to be hard, this is something you need to remember. When you get to the university next semester, you most likely won't have a job. That means that your wallet will continuously shrink. I'm not saying that you have to pinch your pennies until the fall, but make sure you have enough money for that 2 a.m. pizza on your first weekend of the semester.
10. Don't drop connections.
When you come back home for the summer you're going to be broke and in desperate need of a job. Leave your job on a good note and they'll most likely take you back for the few months that you're home. It's not easy to get a job for just the summer months. Also, keep in touch with teachers because they can make great references for that internship that you're going to want in your third year.
11. Graduation may be the best day of your life.
It's such an amazing feeling to finally escape the tiled hallways and horrible cafeteria food. Throw your cap high in the air and don't let anything get you down on this monumental day. Rain or shine, make the best of it. Hug your family tight, and your friends even tighter. But most importantly, don't trip as you get your diploma.
