I miss not having a care in the world. Growing up, we spent every summer fishing and staying in our grandma’s cabin. We’d take road trips while blaring AC/DC, and we'd wake up at 5 AM to trek through the snow to the deer stand. We spent more time at the neighbor’s house playing board games and cooking, than at our own house, because they were just like family to us. Every one of my games or meets was something I looked forward to. Even going to work, and getting to spend my entire paycheck on whatever I wanted was great because I didn’t have to pay any bills. I love being an adult now. I graduated from college, I have a good job, benefits, a house, and a car, but it definitely wasn’t an easy road. It made me learn to appreciate my childhood and everything my parents did for me.

When you’re a senior in high school, all you can think about is graduating and going off to college or moving onto whatever it is you want to do. You finally have the freedom to do what you want when you want. College will be like high school, only less drama, more parties, harder homework, and a lot of questioning whether you are really cut out for this. Don’t get me wrong, college is great. You meet so many new friends and get to experience life without having to ask for permission. You have the opportunity to be the person you want to be. However, there is no going back to the way it was before, because you have responsibilities now. There is no more asking mom or dad for gas money or coming home to dinner on the table. You don’t get to play with your dogs or see your parents without an excessively long drive. The people you were so close with over the last twelve years will never be in the same place at once again. You are trying to balance classes, homework, and work while attempting to maintain a social life, feed yourself, and get eight hours of sleep at night. You’re probably going to spend your last $10 on alcohol and joke about jumping in front of a car so they can pay your tuition because you feel like you're already drowning in debt. Being an adult ends up not being what you expected at all.

So enjoy high school while it lasts and make all of the memories you can because things will never be the same again. And if you are already out on your own, remember that life gets a lot harder before it gets better.