To: The Next Senior Class

This is a little bit of my heart to my future senior babies.

If you are reading this, you are most likely a junior about to become a senior. I am so glad you are here to read my little ramble. I just want to leave you with a few things that I've learned during my senior year. Keep in mind, my senior year was not all picture perfect. I had a very rough start and I constantly cried about how hard it was for me and how much I hated every single moment. However, the year flew by for me whether I wanted it to or not. Now that my senior year is coming to a close, I want to share this list of things I want you to know before walking into the last year of high school.

1. It is okay to have lazy days at school. No one really cares.

2. Participate in the spirit days. It may seem dumb if you think you are "too cool for school" but those weeks are super fun and when you look back at your high school pictures, you can be proud that you actually did things to show school spirit. Don't complain that your school doesn't have school spirit if you aren't even showing support.

3. Go to tutoring. I know that seems like an impossible task but I promise you that teachers look for dedication in their students. When you show that you care about your future and grades, they will also reciprocate by helping you as much as they possibly can. Also, reality check- your grades will actually go up!

4. It is completely okay not to have a date to a school dance. I made the mistake going into my first and last Winter Formal dance with a negative mindset and quite frankly- I had a horrible time. I was upset that I couldn't find a date and that I was the only girl in my Winfo group to not have a date. I cried and complained all night instead of letting loose and having fun with my friends. When prom came around, once again, I did not have a date. I was clearly upset and sad about it. I didn't even want to go at one point. But all at once, it clicked. I stayed up till 3am looking at my sophomore year homecoming pictures and I realized I had the best time not having a date because I walked in not knowing what to expect. I had a positive mindset to begin with and that was exactly what changed the experience after all. So when I went to my senior prom dateless, I exuded positivity and confidence and that was how I had the BEST time. I danced on top of a speaker with my other dateless friend and conquered the whole night. I promise your mindset is such a big part of it all.

5. Go to every school event that you can go to. You would be surprised by how much fun you have by going to things and meeting new people. I've made so many wonderful friends this year because I went to every event (I had to because of Student Council).

6. Be that one annoying person that takes pictures of everything. Time will pass and people will move on with their lives but those pictures are what will bring you back to those happy moments that you envy to return to once they are gone.

7. Be reckless. Okay, I am not telling you to go out and rob a bank but I am telling you to live life on the edge a little. Break a few rules every once in awhile because when you look back to those memories, you will laugh about it and think of how silly you were. As a reward for you reading to this point, I will let you in on a little secret. One time I went on a day date with my homecoming group to Globe and we went on top of a mountain in the middle of a forest with no cell reception and I did not get home until 2 am.. My set curfew was 11:30.. You already can guess how upset my mom was when she called me 23 times and I did not answer once. Well, I came home to a locked door and I slept in my car till 5am when I begged my dad to open the door for me. But my point is, that actually ended up being one of the best nights I'd ever had in high school. Sometimes the times that are the most memorable are usually the nights that you're stretching the rules to some extent.

8. Don't walk into senior year hoping to get into a perfect relationship with a fairytale ending. Start the year with an open mind and ride the wave. Don't pry your eyes open on every potential person. Enjoy your year. It will fly by. 10 months is all you get, then next thing you know, you're leaving graduation with a diploma in your hand. After you graduate, you will walk away from 90% of it all. All good things will naturally come to you. The best comes out of nowhere and when you least expect it. Have fun with your friends, and let things come to you naturally.

To wrap things up, I just want to say that finishing up high school is one of the most incredible feelings ever. It will be something that you will look back at constantly and think about. Whether it was good or bad, you will think about the old days. What I'm trying to get to you guys is that don't waste all the limited time that you have in this last year. I promise you that after you graduate, things will not get any easier for you. The real world hits hard and it is not simple. While I was in high school, every thing was so easy and not complicated but the moment I became a high school graduate, I suddenly had a bunch of responsibilities and many financial things to worry about. I remember being an 8th grader and I would wish that I was an adult already but I definitely regret making that wish because being an adult is scary and something that you will have to be for the rest of your life. Don't rush to become an adult.. It really isn't worth it. I wish that all I had to worry about was what dress I wanted to wear to prom and not worry about how the heck I'm going to pay for college without going into debt. Please don't take your childhood/high school experience for granted. Just enjoy every second of the time you have left being a kid.