Dear Senior Year Me,

You're almost there. You're finally on the real home stretch. Graduation is only a month away, and you can't be more excited. High school may have been great for you, but you can't wait to leave your tiny town and branch out into the "real world." You walk into your AP Lit class with heavy feet and heavy eyelids, and you're gone as soon as the bell rings. You've been hit with Senioritis, and it's especially bad during this last month. You're counting down to the blessed day that you get to walk across that stage and get your diploma. You're counting down the days until you can say "I made it through high school." Graduation day will come, and you will feel so many emotions. You're going to be so excited that you finally made it. You're going to feel nervous about tripping while walking across the stage. You're going to feel like you're only 5 years old, that you shouldn't be old enough to be graduating. After all, when you went to your first graduation freshman year, you thought those people were so old. Yet here you are, putting on your cap and gown. You're going to be utterly terrified of what's going to happen afterwards. Will you still talk to your "best friends" after you all go your separate ways in August? Will you see any of these people again?

Let me tell you something.

Summer is going to be weird. You're not in high school anymore, but you don't feel right about calling yourself a "college kid" yet. Part of you will feel so free once you get your diploma, but then the other part of you will still feel "trapped" under your parents wings. But it won't hit you until the first person of your friend group packs up and moves 3,000 miles away to her new school. One by one, your best friends, your group, your #SquadGoals are in all different parts of the country, and in your case, all parts of the world. Then it's your turn. You and your parents grab the suitcases, you say a tearful goodbye to your siblings, and then the water works start when you go to pet your dog for the last time until Christmas. You get to your college, unpack, have the hardest goodbye (except maybe your dog), and then you're all on your own.

College will be great. You might not have the perfect roommate, or the perfect schedule, but you will grow so much. You will learn so much in different ways, like how much coffee can one have before dying (so far, I've had 7 in one day and I'm still alive) You're going to meet so many great people who truly care for you. But you will also get homesick, it sucks, but don't be afraid to confide in your friends and teammates. They really do care about you. So dear Senior Senior Year Me, please please please enjoy your last month of high school. Enjoy the last few weeks that you are guaranteed to see all of your friends in one place. Do not take for granted that there is free food and free laundry at home, because you will miss it. Tell your friends and family that you love them, and do it often. When you and your friends are all just sitting there talking, stop, take a moment, and truly enjoy it. Don't worry about what is to come, because God's got it all figured out for you. (Also, you're going to Michigan instead of Arizona, just to help you out a little) You're going to do great in college. Get it girl. You rock.

Sincerely,

College Me