By Cheryl Mattox Berry
The last few days of high school are bittersweet for seniors. They’re glad the stressful, activity-filled year is over but anxious about what lies ahead.
Seniors, take a deep breath. Exhale. You’ll be fine. Before you leave high school, walk those long halls one more time and reflect on all that you accomplished during the last four years. Think about your mistakes and what you learned from them. Remember the triumphs and the trials.
You’re proof that what doesn’t kill you will make you stronger. You’re not the same student who showed up on the first day of class in ninth grade. You’re wiser and more confident in your decisions and yourself. Also, you’ve developed a unique sense of style – hair, makeup, fashion and attitude.
There are many people at your high school who helped you get to this point. Teachers, guidance counselors, coaches, administrators, security officers and volunteers. Find them, thank them, and give them a big hug. They went over and beyond what was required of them, but they did it because they saw something in you, even when you didn’t see it yourself.
Take pictures with your favorite teachers and keep their email address high on your list of contacts. You never know when you’ll need someone to chat with when the going gets tough. They can offer advice and words of encouragement.
After your walk down memory lane, make a mental note of how you feel at the moment. Take that exhilaration and pride with you as you embark on the journey to your next milestone. You’ll be starting all over again at college, vocational school or boot camp. On the first day, you’ll no doubt feel a little unsettled like you did on the first day of high school.
However, there’s a big difference. Now you know that you can reach your goals because you’ve done it once already – you’ve graduated from high school. Congratulations and Godspeed.