(Yes, it’s another one of those)

1. Always remember that family comes first. Take advantage of them always being a few feet away, just down the hall. Appreciate your family dinners, one day you’ll realize that it’s the last one before you’re shipped off to college. Remember the way your mom smells, you’ll miss it when she’s not always around. No matter how much your siblings annoy you, one day you’ll wish they were knocking on the door of your dorm room asking for just one more hug.
2. Take a good long look around your classroom. Look at the people that have surrounded you for so many years, the people who know you better than you know yourself. Remember them. You wouldn’t be where you are without them, and they wouldn’t without you. You might not even be friends with half of these people, but I guarantee when you walk into your first class at college, you’re going to wish there was a friendly face there with you. Cherish the moments when you feel comfortable in your classroom.
3. Get to know your teachers. Remember, before they were your teacher, they were a person too. Everyone has a story and every story is worth reading. Maybe you’ll learn something from them that can’t be taught out of a book.
4. Never wish for time to pass. One day you’ll be in eighth grade wishing that the Washington trip was just one week closer, and the next you’re a senior crying at the yearbook dedication ceremony.
5. Make mistakes. Make them now so you learn from them sooner. These are the best years of your life, but only if you make them that.  

   

6. Tell your dog that he’s a good boy every chance that you get. He’s not going to understand when you leave for college, so make sure he knows that he is loved.
7. Dance your heart out at prom. Don’t be the people that sit at a table and glare at everyone dancing– you’ll regret it sooner or later.
8. You may think that you just can’t wait to get out of here and far away from all of these people — the truth is, you don’t. At some point or another you’re going to feel homesick. You’re going to miss everything that you’ve ever known. You’re going to miss the garbage can being under the sink and the mugs in the cupboard by the stove. You’re going to miss your favorite bath towel and the travel cup you take to school everyday. You’re going to miss the comfort of being home when you’re sick and your parents coming home at night with chicken soup and cough syrup. You’re going to miss this.
9. Live day to day. The days go slow and the weeks go quick, but the years will start to fly by.
10. One day you’ll be a senior in high school, laying in bed, and it’ll finally hit you. It’s almost over. Your eyes will well with tears no matter how much you thought you hated high school, no matter how many times you wished to graduate sooner.

You’re going to miss this, and I’m going to miss you.