Dear soon-to-be high school graduate,

Graduation day. The day you've been looking forward to your entire life is slowly inching its way toward you. As you reflect on the memories you've made on the first half of the year you realize that in a blink of an eye it was all said and done. You are now officially half way there on receiving your diploma, so buckle your seat belts. It is going to be a joyful ride for the coming months as you develop more lasting memories.

You might be getting bogged down on school work with midterms and other extracurriculars; however, you can't forget the people in your life that have been there through thick and thin. In a matter of months, you are going to venture off into a whole new setting and meet new friends and let me tell you, the last months of senior year go by fast.

You may or may not be prepared for how fast it truly is going to come but you will reflect back on these days when you are in your cap and gown, receiving your diploma and inevitably crying tears of joy. Crying that all of your hard work has finally paid off. Crying that the people you've grown so close with have been there for you for all those years.

Now, I write to all graduating seniors when I say this but take in every moment and make the best of it. There is nothing worse than looking back and regretting that you could've done something but missed that window of opportunity. You only get one shot at high school and some of the best memories are made during this time.

The final pages of your high school career are turning and it is almost time to start a new chapter in your life. Don't blink because it will go by faster than you could imagine and pretty soon you will be walking across that stage holding your diploma.