Dear Graduates,

This is dedicated to the ones who just walked across a big stage, metaphorically, leaving behind what was left of their adolescence.

Months turned to weeks, weeks turned to days, until the alarm titled Graduation went off the morning of. No one quite prepares you for the shock that fills your body as you realize you have no more days left in your home you created for yourself the past 4 years. The shock is overridden by the excitement for the milestone day you're about to have. I took my time to get ready, soaking in every last second at my vanity in my college room, dozing off out the window as memories flooded back to me. I reached for my cap and gown as I looked in the mirror with a quivering lip trying to not cry. I put my head down and shut my bedroom door behind me. Then off we went to say goodbye to our college chapter in life and our last glimpse of childhood.

The funny thing about growing up is you never know when it's really happening in the moment, until one day you look back and realize that's it, you did it. All the friends that came and went, the broken hearts you may have caused or have healed from, and your passions and dreams that have changed numerous times. The one constant in the heat of it all, is you. You have been with yourself through it all, even if you don’t remember the last Barbie game you played, or the last time you went out to scooter with the neighborhood kids. I think it's truly bittersweet. You grow so much to the point where even if you stayed in these spaces, you have no more lessons to learn, and no more knowledge to absorb. Which is why you just have to keep looking forward. Looking forward to all the laughs you haven't had yet, all the people you have not met, all the adventures waiting for your arrival, and all the new lessons to be learned.

As I leave behind my mark on my college chapter in life, I feel like I am looking at the world through a new lens, a new perspective. We don't have long on this floating rock and time moves by us pretty quickly, that's for sure. So my mission to carry into adulthood is to never let go of my childhood. I will play, I will laugh, I will get muddy outside, I will be eager to learn new things I didn't know before, and I will always live with love in my heart.

Cheers to the next chapter of life college graduates. The beauty in this next step is that we all finally get to break off from the construct of society and do what we want to do. On that note, I better start prepping for my job starting in a month. I'll leave you there for now, congratulations it's your time to live.

Best,

Emma Bouchard