Congratulations! You made it!
Whether that be through four years of high school or four years of college, count it a success. Even if you did not finish with a 4.0, you finished. Not everyone does that, so celebrate and have a slice of cake. You're about to take on a big new world.
For you high school grads, college may be the next step. It's a whole new world, let me tell you. But I absolutely love it and wouldn't trade it for the world. It has all kinds of thing you simply cannot prepare for, no matter how hard you try. Believe me when I say I was the girl who came into freshman year with EVERYTHING anyone could ever need — just ask my pals. However, there are some things that Pinterest and Odyssey articles just cannot prepare you for. You will have to learn on your own. I know it sounds scary, but trust me, it's not half bad. College will help you grow as a person and stretch you in ways you never imagined. Looking back now, I see how just one year at a small college taught me more than I ever imagined it could, and I now see you as unprepared as I was for the real world. Though I still do not think I'm ready, I have more under my belt now (and I'm not just talking about the freshman fifteen).
Enjoy your last summer of high school and do not take a single moment for granted. You will never get those days back, no matter how much you want to. Work hard and save up money, but also enjoy your high school friends' company a few last times before you all part ways for the semester. DO NOT waste your summer sitting alone in your house with nothing to do. Get outside, meet up with people, buy supplies for your first year of college and absorb the few weeks you have left living at home before you become an "adult". Love every minute right now and do not let the stress overtake you. It will all work out, I promise.
To the college grad, CONGRATULATIONS! You not only finished four years of high school and can attest to all the things that I mentioned earlier, but you've completed yet another major milestone in your life. You now have a college diploma and will enter the real world soon! Though I have not been there myself (not yet, anyways), I can only imagine how scary it must seem. But I do know this: God has gone before you and leveled your path. He has already fought for you and He knows what tomorrow holds for you. So even if you do not know what job you will have in a few months or where you'll live or even how you'll survive, God knows. He cares about you more than you can imagine, and He's got this. So surrender all of your worries to Him and get a good night's sleep tonight.
Pray about it. Pray that God will give you the wisdom to make the best decision and the peace to accept whatever that may be. Know that I am praying the same for you. We serve a mighty God and I know He is capable of all things. I cannot wait to see you excel as you enter the next phase of your life. Please do not forget about your college friends that you will leave behind. Don't forget about us little folk. Please keep in touch and I promise to do the same. I know you will do well "adulting" and I can't wait to see where God leads you.
Regardless of what phase of life you just completed, the next one always seems scarier. I honestly do not think that ever gets easier, but as we grow older, we learn more about this thing called life and we begin to truly live. I pray that you take in all the knowledge you can and apply it well. I hope that you live life to the fullest and glorify God in everything that you do. Don't worry, you'll make plenty of new friends and everything is going to be alright. You're an amazing person and you're off to great things. Now go, have fun, be smart, and don't look back.
