An Open Letter to Second Semester High School Seniors

Dear Soon-To-Be Grad,

You're almost there. 4 short months until you're officially finished with your 12+ years of required schooling. 4 more months until you walk across that stage and into the next chapter of your life. Take time to think about how far you've come, and how far you'll go from here.

Enjoy your last few months of high school while making sure to stop and cherish the moments. Spring break, prom, senior prank, senior trip. Take lots of pictures. These are the moments you'll want to remember 10 years down the line.

It's okay to have a small case of senioritis. The beauty in high school is that you can skip, and still make good grades. Know that it's okay to take a day off here and there to relax. You've spent 12 years of your life in the classroom. Take a break if you need it.

Make good lasting impressions on your teachers, because they've probably helped in shaping the path you'll take after high school. Something I wish I did during my senior year is personally thank all the teachers who inspired me over the years. I wouldn't have made it through high school without their guidance.

Spend lots of time with your family. Whether you're going off to college after high school, or going straight into the workforce, you're not going to have as much time to hang out with your loved ones as you do now. Believe me when I say college will be the most time consuming stage of your life thus far. Go see a movie with your parents. Go shopping with your siblings. Spend time with the people you love.

Finish out strong. Do your homework. Participate in class. Study hard for your finals. They're the lasts tests you'll take in months. So many people "check out" right before the year ends, which does nothing but ruin their transcripts. Don't be that person.

Again, make sure to enjoy what will be the quickest months of your life. You've come so far, and you should be so proud of yourself. Make these last months count!

Sincerely,

A Second Semester College Freshman