On the eve of my graduation, there is nothing I would change.

On the eve of my graduation, there are so many things I want to say.

And on the eve of my high school graduation, I'm not sad, or tired or excited singularly, but a mess of sadness, excitement, exhaustion, fear and nostalgia.

I've gone through today with a huge sense of relief as classes end, and then as I spent my final school night going through the same motions, I felt almost numb.

The saying, "You never know what you've got until it's gone," has never felt better fitting to my high school experience.

I know anyone who's far past high school must read this and giggle, thinking that these years are just a blip on the radar of life and that in the end, who you meet beyond the football games and proms and senior pranks will impact you.

That's true, I'm sure. But I can't thank every person in my class enough for who I am. I'm not friends with everyone and I can guarantee I haven't met everyone, but being a part of something greater than any one of us has made me who I am, and I have never felt more confident to enter the adult world. I credit that to my classmates and teachers and everyone who helped me along the way.

Part of me wants to cry my eyes out. I'll miss all of the fun stuff, the games, the rivalry in town, the dances, the friends, the moments at lunch.

Part of me wants to wave goodbye and never look back on all of the hard moments when I was tested, let down, confused or feeling hopeless.

Part of me wants to sit in my cap and gown forever and never walk, just taking in the beauty and accomplishments I see in my class without letting it officially end.

But that all brought me to my final thought.

So, to whoever reads this, the underclassman, the cousin, the sister -- whoever you might be, if you're still in high school, here's to you.

Here's to your flaws, to your moments of success, to the letdowns, to the pure joy, to the discovery, the friendships, to the people you met and the moments you will cherish. I want to say to those who will graduate in years to come, for whatever your experience was, cherish it all. Breathe it in and soak it up and never let it go. Because when it ends, you'll wait and wait for it to hit you. And when it does, you'll realize you're out of time.

Remember, for me, that you aren't defined by the numbers, by the losses, the grades, the failures. Remember that this chapter is small, and quick, but it's also a blank canvas every single day. There's always another shot to make this part of your life a masterpiece and I challenge you to do so. Embrace it all, live it so fully that you have to step back every so often and relish in the joy of who you are and who you are becoming. Because I promise you, the small things like your "C" in math or the awkward moments mean nothing -- the friendships, the finding of beauty in what's around you and the growth you experience in high school will mean so much more to you. Please cherish it.

Tomorrow I'll graduate. I'll toss my cap and hug my friends and family. I'll take a step into the next chapter. All I want right now is more time to love my school, my friends, and my memories. So please, make it count.