You did it.

You made it through four years of high school, and if your school is like mine, you are now in that period of time when you've finished classes and are just a couple days away from your actual graduation. This is a very exciting time and you can't help but feel anxious as you await the big day.

I was in your shoes a year ago and the time has flown, and yes maybe I'm a little washed up, but it seems like yesterday that I walked across the stage, flung my cap in the air, and looked around at all the faces I went to school with for twelve years knowing there were many I would never see again. After completing my first year of college I want to stress how important it is not to wish your time away.

I get it, the senioritis was real and you wanted nothing more than to be out of that place, wanting a new beginning, a change. But you'll soon come to realize you'll miss the familiar faces you passed in the halls when you're trying to navigate yourself around your new campus.

Yes, the idea of branching out and getting a chance to meet new people is so intriguing. You get a chance to start over, to make a new first impression. Don't rush your time with your friends at home. It's the summer nights where hours were spent talking outside by a fire, road trips, concerts, and the sleepovers that you'll miss the most. When its the first week of school and you're trying to introduce yourself to your floormates in the hopes of meeting your best friends, you'll miss your friends at home that understand why you are the person you are today and have been with you for years.

I know the idea of having no parental supervision sounds awesome and yes, you might get into fights with your parents when you arrive home past your curfew and wish nothing more than to be away at college where you won't have to deal with it anymore. You will regret ever feeling joyful at the thought of being away from your parents when its move in day, you've said your goodbyes and you are watching your parents drive away. As much as you tell them you can't wait to move out, come the fall you will miss them more than you ever imagined.

Take this time to truly appreciate everything your family has ever done for you. Hate to break it to you but mom will not be there to do your laundry for you, you can't call dad to kill a spider you saw crawl under your bed, and you won't have your sisters closets to raid. Hug for family a little more often because there will come days when you are homesick and want nothing more.

Graduation will come and you will think you have all this time ahead of you, but the summer will pass with a blink of an eye, so make the most of the time you have left in your hometown. Go out with your friends and make memories that you'll talk about for years to come, because it will be a while before you are all together again. The day will creep up on you when you're teary eyed saying goodbye to your best friend who lived six minutes from you, as you are about to take on college in different states.

I'm not saying college isn't something to look forward to, because believe me it is. I've met some amazing people and have memories that I'll never forget. I'm just emphasizing not to wish away your time at home, because you'll miss it once your gone.