Senior sentiments

It's crazy how time flies. No matter how hard I try to slow down and enjoy each moment, time continues to slip right on by like sand in a sieve. But nonetheless, my heart is full (and so is my schedule, which explains the lack of recent entries) and needs to spill for a bit, so here goes…

My senior year of high school is almost over. It's hitting me hard and fast. I have a mere 16 days left in this familiar place with these people I've known for years. And it's quite bittersweet. I am so eagerly awaiting May 25th, when I can receive my diploma, toss my cap, and move on to the next chapter in my life.

But I'm also trying to hang on to every last minute and memory that I possibly can.

I've only recently come to realize that I've taken much too much for granted throughout high school. It's sad that I've waited until my senior year to open my eyes to the opportunities and blessings all around me, things that have been there all along but have only become evident to me as of late. 

Unfortunately, I feel like I'm only just now truly getting to know my classmates. Which is sad, because I've spent the past six years with them all (and some I've been with for thirteen long years!). I'm just beginning to see what good friends I've found in some of these people I've shared halls, classrooms, lockers, and lunches with. It's as though there's an invisible bond pulling us from our separate ways despite our differences, and allowing us to embrace the last minute opportunity to really get to see one another for who we are, putting aside all previously harbored judgments or differences. In addition, I'm very thankful for the wonderful friends I've been getting to know even better recently.

The past few months have been full of monumental (and sometimes sentimental) lasts: the last home basketball game I'll get to observe from the student section, my final musical performance from the auditorium stage, my last opening day Strike Out Cancer softball game, my final season as a Hawk, senior prom... 

But it's exciting to think about all the firsts I'm about to experience, and the new memories, places, and faces that will come along with it. I can't wait to see all that God has in store for me during the next chapter of my life.

In the meantime, as my graduation date draws nearer, I'm simply trying to enjoy every day--every hour of studying for the calculus exam, planning my graduation party, scheming up ornery office shenanigans, spending my final days in the halls of my high school home with my classmates. 

As I look back on my time in high school, the things I'm gonna miss the most are the times with the people I've gotten to know over the years. I'm gonna miss being crazy busy in the office, yet making time to be ornery and think up silly pranks to keep things exciting. I'm gonna miss those unproductive days of senior bonding in yearbook class, funny lunch table conversations, frustrating calculus parties, talks with my favorite teachers, spontaneous movie nights, ridiculous conversations sparking contagious laughter in AP English, NHS lunch meetings, being insanely overwhelmed with lists upon lists of things that need done, but nevertheless enjoying it all. 

They always say your senior year flies by; I always believed the cliche warning, but little did I know just how quickly it slips by until I experienced it for myself. My advice to the underclassmen would be this: make the most of your time in high school; get involved; don't stress over little things or care what other people think; really get to know your classmates; be kind to everyone, you never know how you might be impacting those around you; and most of all, sit back and enjoy the ride.