On June 3 this year, the Cy-Fair High School Class of '16 officially became Cy-Fair alumni. It's hard to imagine that I was in this exact position only a year ago. I am ecstatic for all of my younger friends who are ready to begin the next chapter in their lives!

Truthfully, my first year in college went by way too quickly and I can still remember my high school graduation fairly well: I graduated summa cum laude, the highest honors given for academic performance at Cy-Fair High School — yet I forgot my honors cord and medal the day of graduation and set the record as the only honors student to walk across the stage with an unadorned robe. Who really cares, though, when you're officially a graduate?!

High school was what I considered a beautiful, sweet mess. I made some great memories in high school, but I also went through some of my roughest experiences during these times too.

Here is a compilation of all the aspects of high school that I was more than thrilled to leave behind. (I had some help from Cady Heron and Regina George for this one.)

1. Having to ask permission to use the restroom.

When you have to go, you have to go! Girls especially have some unsaid business they've got to take care of.

2. Silly high school cliques.

Cliques are stupid, period. But they're kind of inevitable in high school because people involved in the same extracurriculars are constantly going to hang out with each other and sometimes neglect their other friendships.

3. Embarrassing stories being widely spread.

I've had my fair share of embarrassing stories spread in high school — it's too easy when there are less than a thousand students in your grade. College is so much bigger that it's rare for your drunk stories to reach outside of your friend group.

4. The rumor mill.

This one kind of bounces off of the previous one, but again, it's harder for rumors to be spread in college because universities have thousands of students. Not to mention, people are more mature at this point and know better than to spread false rumors about others.

5. Petty girl drama.

Girl drama was the worst in high school. I never knew why girls bothered tearing each other down when they could have spent their time and energy doing something more useful.

6. Wearing sweatpants in the scorching heat because Nike shorts and yoga pants aren't allowed.

Sometimes, jeans are just too constricting to wear every day. Girls always have to wear super-tight skinny jeans so we can show off our assets! This is torture on a lazy day when you just want to wear athletic shorts or yoga pants — but apparently such bottoms prevent boys from receiving a proper education. Shame.

7. A greater proportion of ignorant people.

Of course, there are going to be ignorant people even in college, but there are certainly far

fewer of them in college than in high school. Universities are selective in whom they admit, after all.

8. Being sheltered by adults around you.

I definitely don't blame my parents and teachers for sheltering me, but I do feel as if I would have been more prepared for college if I knew more about the "scary adult world" before entering it. Being sheltered can be nice when you're young, though — there are some nasty things you only find out about as you get older.

9. Excessive trend following.

Guilty as charged, as I do tend to dress incredibly basic rather often. But it's nice how in college, individuals (somewhat) have more of their own style instead of constantly trying to buy the same brands as others.

10. Riding the school bus until I got my license.

Unfortunately, I did not get my license until my senior year of high school. Incredibly late, I know. That's what happens when you low-key fail your driver's test two times before passing. Ah, riding the bus for more than three years really did suck. At least I never got hit by one though. Actually, provided I survived in one piece, getting hit by a UT bus wouldn't be too bad because that would mean free tuition.