"As you start your journey, the first thing you should do is throw away that store-bought map and begin to draw your own." Michael Dell

My oh my, how the time has flown. Here we are, senior year of college. Many of us don't know what our plans are after we graduate, and some of us do. I never believed when people would tell me that my four years would fly by, but they definitely did. I remember being a freshmen at the University of Alabama and here we are three years later, and I am officially a senior. We are the seniors.

I remember looking around campus wondering where my classes were and how difficult they would be, but I can't believe I am sitting here writing this letter to you, about my experience with college and the numerous amounts of times that I didn't think I would even make it to my senior year. But we did it. We managed to spend countless nights pulling all nighters, late night trips to Starbucks and study groups for that Biology class we thought we would fail.

Whatever you choose to do after you graduate, or wherever you choose to go, just know that we did it. We accomplished a substantial goal, not one that just anyone can succeed at. That counts for something. Don't let people tell you that you should've chose a different major because, "that one won't make you any money," it's your life and your choice. I couldn't even tell you how many times I have been asked or passive aggressively judged because of the major I chose. The fact of the matter is that we have succeeded.

Don't let the haters get you down. For everyone who told you you couldn't do it, you did. You did the damn thing. And although I will admit, I do have senioritis occasionally... Yes it is a thing. I encourage all of you to push through it, after all we have come this far. We can't let our laziness and exhaustion get in the way of accepting that diploma. All of the endless nights of studying, stressing and even sometimes crying, won't be for nothing. College has shaped us into the young adults we are today. It has proven to us that we can accomplish any goals as long as we pursue it to the best of our abilities (Okay, I'll stop being cheesy for now).

I've definitely proved myself wrong when I had taken classes I thought I would do poorly in. I can already imagine the smiles on my mom and brother's face from Heaven, knowing that I am going to be a college graduate in just a few short months. Pursue your passions and interests, don't be afraid to do what YOU want to do. You did your absolute best, and even though it wasn't easy (by any means), we MADE it. The finish line is so close I can practically feel it! Keep it up seniors, we're almost there.

To the Class of 2017, Congratulations!