I know it's not the last summer. Summer comes every single year and wherever I am, I'll have some kind of summer experience. But this summer has become important to me for so many reasons, and in a series of articles this summer, I hope to share with you .why the summer before I head to college has become so dear to my heart.

To the summer after I graduated high school, the summer when I turn 18, and the summer before I go to college, thank you (already) for the lessons and experiences.

I think that the reason I wanted to write something like this is to try and capture the feelings that come with this time in life that others might experience. For me, this summer has been crazy and already a whirlwind. I turn 18 tomorrow, it's only been two weeks since I graduated, and yet I feel like an entirely different person. Summers are precious, and they teach you more than I think a lot of schools can, especially as a human being. So here, to the future high school graduates, is what I think you might like to know about the upcoming road and a bit of what I've learned, too.

The first lesson is to, above anything and everything else, appreciate your family. I've been getting asked so often how many days are left until I leave for school. And when that question rings in my head, I can feel the sounds of my parents giving me suggestions or my sister and I bickering fading in my head. It is so scary how fast it will all change, and now my life and perspective have become one giant magnifying glass to how much my parents have done for me. Eighteen years of tireless work and my mom is still awake now preparing for my graduation party at 11 p.m., that is tomorrow. Appreciate them. Thank them. Even if things aren't always easy, you'll regret being annoyed and angry with them. Because they work hard, and soon you might have to call to say thank you.

The second is to call that friend who you drifted apart from in high school. Think of it this way, it's your last chance to reconnect with anyone who you may have lost touch with. In two weeks, I have reconnected with someone so important to me and we've become the best of friends again. It's easy and such a great source of happiness. So pick up the phone.

Thirdly, become the best balance of a realist and a dreamer that you can be. Be honest with yourself about who you want in your life, what you're doing, your choices, and how you are impacting your world and others. But also let your mind and your spirit become like a kid again and think of every adventure, idea, or fun thing you can do, and try to do it. You're almost an adult, but you're also still young. It's the best time to cherish where you are.

And lastly, forget the drama. I have learned that I'm often the kind of person that thinks too highly or gets too worked up over the little things that happen. If you have a falling out with someone, if someone wrongs you or if you mess up, stick to your guns, say how you feel and remember who you and that person were yesterday. You don't want the petty drama that you lived through during high school to engulf your adult life and ruin your friendships that have been built over a lot of time.

This summer is so important to me. It has been a time for me to learn, to experience bumps in the road, to breathe and to say thank you. I'm not so great at mastering everything that is flying at me, but I think that writing it down so someone else can hear about it could truly be of use.

So take this summer by storm and enjoy it. Make the most of it and let it transform you. You have time, you have opportunities, and you can embrace them before things begin to change like crazy. Stay tuned for a few more of these articles.