It's the time of year again where high school seniors graduate and the sad Instagram captions come rolling in. "Now I say goodbye" and "The time of our lives is almost up". You know the ones I'm talking about.
They all strike me as rather strange and even a bit depressing.
First of all, why goodbye? It's not like you're leaving for good. You'll be with these people all summer, see each other on holiday breaks, and a lot of your friendships will last through college. Second of all, the time of our lives is almost up? You're 17 and 18 years old and you really think this is the best it's going to get? Yes, these are some wonderful times- homecoming, football games, meeting at your locker before class, sleepovers, shopping trips, skip day, prom- but this isn't the best you'll ever get.
You'll never forget high school. Ask anyone and they'll get that nostalgic look as they think about the time they spent there. Those years will always be a part of you. But college? Life after college? Starting a real job? Moving into your own house? Those things will all be a lot more memorable. I promise seniors, this isn't the best it's going to get.
You're going to college, the army, the workforce, whatever it is that you're getting into you'll make a lot of new memories. You're going to meet people far more complex than the ones you grew up with. You're going to join teams, clubs, or take classes that change the way you live your life. You're going to be challenged and encouraged. You're going to learn and grow. You're going to fall in love or get your heart broken and you'll become a new and stronger person than you were before. You'll realize the importance of childhood friends and family members. You're going to laugh, cry, and think about life way too deeply.
And whether you stay home or move away, you're going to be scared and lonely and you'll miss home, the way things were before, and high school. And then you're going to fit into your new place and feel more at home than you've ever been.
So throw your cap in the air and hold your diploma proudly because you made it this far and the best is yet to come.
