*deep breath*
1) "We're all in this together" Okay, I'll be honest, I used many a quote from HSM3 in my own graduation speech because everyone wants to be in that movie. Am I right? But reality is= you were really all in it together as a result of geography. In the next year you are going to meet sooo many people and make soooo many new friends, it will honestly be hard to keep up with everyone. And if you try to keep up with the old and the new, you will run yourself thin. So, stay loyal to those who are worth it and loyal to you. You will see everyone you love eventually, but make it a point to see the ones you truly love often.
2) "We are incredibly prepared." Yes you are prepared, but college is a whole different kind of beast. I went to a college preparatory school so AKA all I supposedly did was prepare for college. I am forever grateful to the teachers and faculty at Randolph for preparing me as much as I could, but no matter how much preparation you have, college is hard work. You learn real quick that you have to actually read the textbook, study for quizzes, and pass your exams, because they are huge. Take the preparation you have received and work hard, it will pay off.
3) "We are the cool kids on the block now." I know you feel like you are on top of the world because you are finally out of high school, but you're a freshman again. The shiny faced, lost on campus, loud children on campus. Everyone goes through it and everyone gets a little weirder their freshman year so have fun. And there's no "freshman friday," so don't worry.
4) "We are the next doctors, lawyers, teachers, and politicians of the world." Yes, you will be, after you change your mind half a million times and take a bunch of classes you end up technically not needing. But who cares! As someone who started pre-med and is now trying to go to the business school, I do not regret the super cool anatomy and psychology classes I took. And don't forget about all the fun and cool electives to take! Take your time deciding what you want to do and don't worry about wasting time, because you're not. Learn for the sake of learning and you will enjoy figuring out what you actually will be when you grow up.
5) "As we go off to school this fall..." Let me stop you right there. Go to school when you need to and continue with school on your own timeline. Go on that mission trip, go to school in the summer, take a gap year, go on that study abroad, and don't worry about graduating in 4 years or taking a victory lap. Take your time or don't take any time at all! And have a good time with what you're doing. Real life can wait a few more years.
*stepping off soapbox*
By no means am I some expert in the world of high school or college because well, I'm just not, but I hope many of you found a point that you could or could not agree with. If that's the case~ leave a quick comment! I would love to hear your advice and I am sure those reading would appreciate it as well. So, congrats grads and go live.
xoxo,
Lyds
