Dear Class of 2017,
It’s strange to think that I was standing in your shoes just two years ago. To be honest with you, I don’t remember much from my freshman year. I do remember the teachers I had and the activities we participated in, but I have pretty much forgotten the people I sat next to in class or the tests I stressed over. Whenever someone asks me, “Remember that time in freshman year when…” I do remember the urgency of joining clubs, excelling in my classes, and making the most out of what many have promised to be the best four years of my life.
Two years later, I still feel like the same person I was before. I still have many of the same friends from high school, love the same books, and enjoy the same subjects I did in my freshman year. But at the same time, I feel like an entirely different person. I’ve made new friends and lost touch with some old ones. I have discovered new passions of mine and discovered new classes I would enjoy.
Class of 2017, if there is one piece of advice I would give you, it’s this: things will change along the way. Let them change. The one activity you loved your freshman year will not be the activity you dedicate most of your time by senior year. The subject that you intend to study after you graduate will probably not be your intended career path by the time you enter college. And you know what? That’s okay. Don’t ever be afraid of change. Change is good and even necessary. You will never grow as a person without change.
Don’t be in a rush. You don’t necessarily have to find your life’s calling right this second. Instead, you should explore your options – explore classes, explore subjects and explore life. Don’t whine about the events that your friends are forcing you to go. Instead, enjoy the cheers, the pep rallies, and the marching band, even if you don’t know football. You might think you’re above going to prom, but go anyway. It may even end up being one of the best experiences of your life.
And most of all, realize how lucky you really are. Because the truth is, I’m jealous of you. I am jealous that you still have a lot to learn. I am jealous that you don’t have to leave your friends behind in less than a year. I am jealous of how much time you have, something that I fear is quickly running out for me. Don’t take this for granted.
You still have so much to learn. So learn it. Explore, enjoy, and live life. Most of all, don’t be afraid to make mistakes. In just a few years, all the memories, all the tests, and all the classes you’re in will all just be a blur. Before you know it, you’ll be a senior working on college applications, ordering your cap and gown, and starting to plan your future. Don’t take your life for granted, enjoy it while you can.
Sincerely,
A High School Alumni
