A few of my best friends, as they begin their senior year, have the pleasure of watching their siblings start their high school career as freshman. I asked three of my classmates, all of who have freshman siblings, if they would write letters to their younger brothers and sisters, giving them advice or guidance about things they wish they had known going into their freshman year. Needless to say, although I haven't had the experience of being in the same school with my older sister, reading these letters makes me realize how much I have grown as a student the past four years, and how much my sister has taught me, not necessarily through her words, but through her actions as I watched her move through her high school career.

One of my best friends writes this her to younger brother, a great introduction to these letters:

"I suppose I should no longer refer to you as my little brother, since you are already two heads taller than me and still growing! To me, you will always be the same boy whose face and shirt received more of the meal than his actual stomach. The boy who found a way to press every single button in sight and to play with the objects that made the loudest noise, like a moth to a flame (and to this respect, you still have not changed). As the older sibling, I feel obligated to pass on the things that I have learned and to advise you on the things I wish I had learned, which I have tried to do so since August, just before school began. However, you being the younger, equally stubborn sibling, I am quite positive that you have tuned out my words of wisdom. I can’t say that I would have behaved any differently had the roles reversed, but maybe if I write it to you, then you will take my words to heart."

She continues to write, and bring us to her next point:

"First things first: don’t ever forget who you are. Yes, it may sound sappy and I’m sure you are rolling your eyes as you read this, but it’s sound advice. High school is a time of self-discovery, to find the things you’re interested in, but it can also be a time of social pressure and social tensions. Whether you realize it or not, people who you surround yourself with can and will have a big influence on what actions you will take. You have to stay true to yourself and make sure that when you do something, if you choose to, that you are doing it for the right reasons and on your own terms."

Similarly, as another friend of mine writes to her younger sister, she says, "As hard as it might be, always try to know where you stand and never let anyone change your mind. Our friends push us and pull us into new and possibly confusing situations.I want you to be your own person and to grow as a student, not as a group of people."

These ideas of being an individual and of being your own person bring us to our next point, where, again, my friend makes another great point when writing to her younger brother:

"Be a leader, don’t follow the crowd. I know you are your own person and are so proud to be an individual, but sometimes we forget how to be by ourselves. It is so easy to get swept up in social conventions, to follow what others are doing. But that’s not always what is best. You need to learn how to advocate for yourself. It is much easier said than done, but use this time in high school to develop your own voice. I wasn’t able to find my voice until the end of sophomore year, and even then, it is still a work in progress. I hope you are able to learn from yourself and from your friends to find yourself this year or next. How, you might wonder, should you go about doing this? I found that joining clubs, taking classes that involved presenting, and working with others really helped me to refine my skills and taught me how to advocate for myself."

Two other seniors write, "Never make yourself feel small just so someone else can feel bigger. Don’t second guess yourself, always go with your first instinct, and whatever you think is right," and "Make sure to find things that make you happy and that promote your well-being, so that through difficult times, you have something to hold onto."

As each senior speaks about working towards your own character instead of flocking towards the group, they also speak about how sometimes, working in groups is a good thing. Sometimes being with friends and being part of a team gives us a sense of community. The only thing they point out collectively, though, is that through anything you do, you should strive to be the best that you can be.

My friends continue to write to their younger siblings, they say:

"The thing to remember is to always put one hundred and ten percent into anything you are working on, and do what needs to be done," "try your hardest," and one senior even reflects on the importance of asking others for help when needed, "Don't ever hesitate to ask for help from other students, friends, and teachers because they will be your greatest resources throughout your high school career."

My friends continue to write, expressing the importance of making new friends and creating deep connections:

One senior writes, "Treat everyone with kindness. Again, this is something easier said than done, but personal relationships are vital. Try not to listen to or spread gossip because most of it is not true and is created to put others down. Whether or not the information is true, it isn’t your business. Never be afraid to make new friends, or to just be friendly towards someone you’ve never talked to. You never know when you meet someone, whether or not they are working through their own conflicts, and what they might be dealing with outside of school. A simple hello and smile in the hallway or a compliment on a new haircut might make someone’s day slightly better."

Another senior writes, "Make friends that ask about you and your life and about your everyday experiences because you want to be friends with people that are interested in you and everything you do. You want friends to be true and loyal, and pure."

Each of my senior friends has only one more piece of advice for their siblings:

Chloe says: "Breathe, relax, and stay healthy; everything will be okay. Trust that you can do this because I believe that you can."

Daniella says: "You have the biggest heart, don't let anyone change that. You can do anything you set your mind to."

Sara says: "High school can be a terrible time or a wonderful time, and part of that is determined by outside forces. But the other part of it is what you make of it. You can use your four years counting down the days until you get out of our small hometown and go away to college, or you can use this time to find a way to make a difference and find a way to express what you love to do. Not to pressure you, but how you do and what you do in high school will determine which college you attend. So try to do your best, the sky is the limit. Get involved in organizations that you find interesting. Learn how to be a friend and support others. Don’t let anyone tell you that you cannot do something; you can do anything. Don’t settle for ‘okay.’ Strive for greatness."