Senior year is full of lasts. There is the last first day, the last football game, the last time you'll see some of your classmates, the last pep rally, and dozens of other lasts. These are not happy things, but these are necessary things. High school is a phase, and life is full of phase changes. Leaving high school is just one of those.

I come from a small town, and I was ready to head to the city for college.

I had looked forward to college ever since I was little, and the sadness of leaving high school was nothing compared to the excitement I had for my future. I was eager to start a new chapter, and that's perfectly okay. I didn't sulk around like some seniors. Instead, I rejoiced. I was moving and growing, and I was excited to watch my classmates do the same.

 During my senior year, I did as many things as I could to make the most of my last year.

I attended every senior event, helped plan and record our senior video, and even held the office of Senior Class President. Lots of people cried at these senior events, but I smiled and laughed at how much fun these 144 people can have when they were all in the same room. I love Belfry High School's Class of 2018, but I also knew we were all ready for change, and graduation would bring just that.

I felt terrible for thinking, "I'm ready to leave this place," but that's when I realized I was ready to leave the place and time, not the people and memories.

I wasn't leaving everyone behind (thanks to social media). I knew that at the 10-year reunion, we'd have a ton to catch up on. And I found a sense of comfort and excitement in the fact that once again we would have back at least a small portion of our bond that we had at those last senior events.

You don't have to feel bad for being excited about this change.

While you will miss your friends and the smaller amount of responsibility, you have no obligation to be sad about graduating. Some of us are ready to move on, and some of us have a harder time. Don't let your classmates make you feel bad for being more ready than they are. We all accept change in a different way, and that is nothing to be ashamed of.