Dear Seniors

Dear Seniors,

Well, here it is.  The moment you have been waiting for!  You are about to embark on your first day, of your last semester, of your high school career.  Can you believe it?  You are half way done with your final year of high school.  You may be screaming, “FINALLY,” at the top of your lungs, while dancing around your house.  You might be crying into a pillow about the realization that this all ends.  Or, you may be somewhere in between.  Here is some advice from someone who is now 14 years past high school.

This semester will fly by.  There will be many moments when you feel that the semester is going ridiculously slow.  But, I promise you, you will blink and it will be over.

Take pictures.  Take a ton of pictures.  Click away on those camera phones at every event you attend.  Please take appropriate pictures because those bad choices tend to pop back up the rest of your life.

Hang out with your friends.  Make memories. Laugh hysterically.  Eat pizza after ball games.  Stay up late.  Attend the dances.  You will long for these simple moments down the road.

Start envisioning the next steps.  Whether you are heading to college or heading into the work force, envision your goals.  Don’t let anyone stop you.  Find your passion and run toward it.  You can do it!  Believe in yourself and your ability.  God has given you gifts, a passion, and a drive to accomplish your dreams.  Go for it!  Do it!  Believe you can!

Hug your parents.  Hug your siblings.  Hug your family.  Hug your friends.  Tell them what they mean to you.  Thank them for everything they do for you. You may not realize it now, but these people won’t always be around.  You will soon head off to the next phase of your life, and you may not see them daily.  Soak up everything you can from them.  They want to watch you fly, but they are starting to have anxiety about letting go.  Hug them!

Learn how to cook a few meals, learn how to do basic cleaning, and learn how to do your laundry.  Take notes if you must.  No matter where you go or what you do, you will need these basic skills.  Take the time to learn.

Enjoy every moment, of every step, of every day, of every month of this semester.  Soak it all in.  Take a moment to stop and just be present in the moment.  Savor everything that comes your way…good and bad…..Remember that it will all be okay.

There are many people rooting for you.  This educator is for sure.  You are our future.  I can’t wait to see where you end up.  Now go for it!  The world is waiting!