It’s that time of year. The day your class is dressed in black robes and a matching hat, awkwardly standing in front of everyone they know, trying not to trip when they receive a piece of paper while their name is being called out. For the last four years, this was home to you. By now, you know who your friends were, which hallways to avoid during traffic times, and what's best on the school menus. Your biggest worry now is just trying to graduate and make the most of summer before all your friends go away to college. You’re just so excited to get out of this town and get ready for the college life. But slow your roll. Before you know it, it’ll be the morning of your 8 a.m. lecture in a town far away from home, and you'll start to realize how different things really are.

Your friends won't be just a couple minutes away, but hours; the hallways between classes will be busy every time; and suddenly, your flex points will be able to buy you the whole cafeteria. Slow down these last couple days and spend time with your friends. Re-explore your friendships, drive the same roads you've driven for the last four years with the windows rolled down and just listen to the neighborhood. Walk the hallways again. Look around and you can see the freshmen fighting their way through the crowd again, waiting to not be freshmen next year; the sophomores keeping it cool and collected—by now they really know the school; and the juniors itching to be seniors next year, waiting to be “done.” Don’t forget to look at the seniors. See that familiar face? Relaxed and excited with a hint of fear about the future. You know that face well because that’s you too!

So before you throw on that black gown with a matching hat, take a moment, take a deep breath and take in your old town. Because before you know it, it’s another four years down the road and you’ll be doing the big walk again, trying not to trip in front of everyone you know for a piece of paper while they are calling your name.