As summer is coming to a close, we’re forced to think about the upcoming school year -- I’m sorry but we have to face facts; there’s only a month of summer left. However, the fact that there’s only a month of summer left made me come to the realization that for me and the rest of the class of 2017, that means there are only 10 months left of high school left too. Whoever said high school flies by definitely knew what they were talking about. Three whole years of high school have passed in the blink of an eye, and now I’m only left with one year to go. One year left in my school, one year left with all of my friends together, one year left in my house, and one year left in the town I’ve been in for almost my whole life. It’s safe to say I’m terrified. As much as I’m trying to embrace this huge change coming my way, I’m so scared of the giant leap out of my comfort zone. How could I not be scared? I’ve lived the same way of life for 17 years in the same town, surrounded by the same people, and all of a sudden that will all be taken away from me. I’m the oldest kid in my family, so I don’t have much background knowledge about what college is going to bring. It scares me that I don’t know what exactly I’ll be getting into, and it scares me that at only 17 years old and having just finished my junior year, I’m already having to decide what I want to do for the rest of my life. That seems like a huge responsibility to put on someone so young -- someone who can’t legally drink, can’t vote, and isn’t even considered an adult. So many questions have been going through my head -- what if I don’t get accepted to the college I want to go to? How will I pay off all of my student debt? What if I end up hating my major? What if I choose the wrong school? All of these questions don’t just involve my life right now or in the near future; they will affect the entire rest of my life.

I am terrified to move on in my life, but it’s an inevitable change. It’s a change that will bring me a new town to live in, new friends (without ever forgetting my old ones), new experiences and new memories. The stress of college applications, all of the goodbyes, and all of the “lasts” of senior year are dreadful. However, without all of this, I’d never experience all of the hellos and all of the first’s that come with the new chapter of my life. I will cherish my final year of high school -- all of the ups, all of the downs, all of the memories, stress, happiness, and sadness that comes with it. All because I know that this final year at where I call home will be the last one of its kind. I will remember it forever and keep it with me wherever I end up. I’m terrified, but I’m getting ready to face whatever comes my way after high school.