Ending high school, whether you loved it or hated it, is so beyond bitter sweet, but there's nothing that quite compares to the summer that follows graduation. It's a sticky time where you're 18 and want to have complete freedom and be independent, but you still live at home and odds are there's rules to follow and chores to be done. I know it seems like right now all you can think about and all you want is for the end of August to come and you to start your college journey and by all means you should be excited. College really is the best years of your life and it will be completely different than what you thought it would be, but in the best ways possible. But don't be so quick to wish and waste the summer away; there's a lot of things I wish I would've known before college started last fall.

Spend More Time With Your Family

I wish I would have realized how much I would really miss them. I knew I'd miss them a ton, but it's not until you live without them for months at a time when you really feel a bit empty without them there to hug you when you need it or laugh with before bed.

But Spend More Time With Your Friends Too

There's nothing that can really compare to your high school friends. They've been there for you through your ugly stage (3 years) and all the stupid boy drama and still love you for you. You'll make new friends that will be just as amazing, but really it's not quite the same.

And Your High School Boyfriend (Even If He's Going To A Different School)

After high school odds are you won't get to experience that innocent summer love again, so spend all day with him and go on dates every weekend. It won't matter if you break up in a month in, it's probably inevitable, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't spend the summer together because of what the future may or may not hold.

Workout As Much As You Can

The freshman fifteen is a real thing for some people from all the drinking and late night pizza and 24 hour cafeterias. So workout the summer before and get your body and diet on the right track so maybe you'll just gain the freshman three

But Eat As Much As You Can

Go out to eat at all your favorite spots a million times before you leave, have 3 smores at the weekly bonfires, say yes to getting ice cream at the local shop, and eat all you can at the endless grad parties you'll go to just because you'll miss good small town food.

Go To Church As Often As You Can (You'll Miss Your Own Pastor)

Every Sunday try to go. You realize how lucky you were to have your church so close to you when you move away.

Do Every Stupid Cheesy High School Thing You Can (They Won't Be As Fun In A Year)

Go to the football field at three am and stare at the stars for an hour or so with your best friends. Go to the secret ally's and spots you're probably not suppose to be at, but everyone does anyways. Go back to the high school a couple times just to reminisce. Do everything you can while you can.

Cry A Lot About Leaving, But Don't Waste Too Much Time Being Sad

Leaving sucks, especially if you hate change like me, so cry a lot and have a couple breakdowns (they will happen and it's really okay), but make sure not to waste too much time being heartbroken about leaving. Enjoy the time you have left and know that the year ahead of you will be even better than you can imagine.

Buy An Insane Amount Of Clothes

Get party clothes, higher heels, and tighter jeans. You'll need them. Tee shirts don't cut it so much anymore. But make sure to buy some adult clothes too, like business casual outfits, even though they aren't the cutest clothes you'll need them a couple times this year and many more to come.

Start Shopping Months Before

You're completely moved out and living on your own in the fall, so when your mom suggests starting shopping in June just do it. You'll want a perfectly decorated and cozy dorm room and it takes more than a couple 5 hour Target and mall trips to really get everything just the way you want it.

Thank Your Parents A Million Times

You probably don't completely realize it now, but they really do so much for you and it takes moving out and doing everything on your own to really appreciate it.

Enjoy Your Last Carefree Summer

It really will be your last summer of being truly young and dumb with little responsibilities so don't let the little things ruin it and enjoy everything as much as you can cause there's a lot you'll miss.