As kids, we couldn’t wait to be in high school. We wanted to drive, go to the football games, go to prom, and have the freedom that we so often heard about. But there are times when we want these things so much that we don’t fully appreciate them when they come our way. We don’t take the time to realize the fun we’re having, the fun we’d had, or the fun that’s yet to come. And then, before we know it, we become high school seniors, and although we are excited to take the next step in our lives, we sometimes struggle to understand that all of it is over. No more commons, no laughs with your favorite teacher, no more being with all of the people you grew up with, no more Prairie Ridge.
But it’s not all that gloomy. Everyone has those memories and had those moments that will last a lifetime. At the end of every senior’s last year of high school, the pain of leaving is matched equally with the positive elation of beginning a new chapter of their lives; for they are not leaving the four great years behind, but storing them in their memories for years of reflection.
So in the upcoming weeks and months remember to cherish high school for what it is; a great experience with loads of fun, full of activities, nicknames, and friends that will last forever. So if you ever find yourself going too fast, not enjoying things you know you should be, just take a moment. Remind yourself that life is not a race; it’s a leisurely stroll, where the goal isn’t to finish first, but to soak up as much as you can, and then relish it forever.