It's been one year since the Class of 2015 graduated. At this time last year, we felt like we were going insane. We just wanted to get finals over with and get the heck out of high school. Looking back at it now, it really was such a great feeling of relief and excitement for the future. Never forget these feelings. High school graduation isn't going to be like college graduation. I'm only a sophomore in college and I already know this from meeting the seniors at my university. It's not the same because when you graduate from college, you really are going out into the real world. You are all on your own and it is time now to really "adult" (Yeah, "adult" is now, apparently, a verb.) So in honor of graduation weekend, this is for you, Class of 2016.

Remember those who were by your side throughout high school. These people are way more important than you may realize at this point in time. You think that you are going to go off to a new school in a new place and have the time to go visit your high school friends at their schools and talk to them every day. This isn't very realistic. For some it might be, but for most, it isn't. Think about it though, do you really want to lose the people who were right there with you when you were probably just starting to figure out who you are and what you're going to be like? Maybe you found your first love in high school. Do you really want to forget those memories? Think about the people you might have had a falling out with. Even these people are important because at one point in high school, they were there for you too.

Work hard. There are a lot of distractions at college. Now I'm not saying that you shouldn't go out every once in a while because you still need to enjoy the "college experience," right? What I do mean is that college is really going to help determine what you do next with your life. So don't just throw it all away and waste the money that you and your parents are putting towards the education you are getting. You can't just glide through college like you might have been able to in high school. There is a lot of studying to do. Plus, why wouldn't you want to be the best nurse, teacher, engineer, etc. that you could be?

Get involved. You will most likely go to college worried about finding friends but I'll let you on in a little secret. Everyone else is worried about the same thing. Don't be afraid to introduce yourself because I guarantee you, all of the other freshmen will be doing the same thing. Sure, you'll be busy with your studies but college will fly by and before you know it, you'll be out of there too. Go to a basketball game decked out in your school pride gear. Join a club. Live in the dorms. If you really want to go all out and play a huge role at your school, run for a student council position. Getting involved is definitely going to help you prepare for the future and teach you great communication skills that will be important for the rest of your life.

Finally, don't forget to come home every once in a while. There are so many people out there that love you, and chances are, they're going to miss you like crazy when you go off to college. Come home for the breaks. When you can't come home, call your family and Skype them on Sunday afternoons. Guess who else will be at home too? Those cool friends of yours from high school. Nothing is better than coming home to spend Christmas, Thanksgiving, and summer with the people you love the most.

Live it up, Class of 2016!