What I Want Every Graduating Senior To Know

Intro

If you are graduating this year, there is a good chance you are hearing ALOT of advice right now. Some of it is helpful. Some of it is overwhelming. And a lot of it feels like pressure to have everything figured out. So here’s what I actually want you to know. Not as a teacher, not as a parent, but as someone who has watched hundreds, maybe thousands, of seniors stand right where you are.

You Do Not Need To Have It All Figured Out

Despite what it looks like on social media, most people don’t have a clear plan. Even when they “look” confident. So, it’s okay if you’re unsure about your major. It’s okay if your plans change. It’s okay if you feel excited and terrified at the same time. That doesn’t mean you are behind. It means you are human.

High School Senior Girl holding her Early College Associates Degree from EPCC in a white dress and black graduation gown at sunset at TTUHSC

This Is A Season - Not A Deadline

Senior year feels like a finish line. But, it’s really a doorway. The version of you right now matters, even though it will change. You will grow in ways you can’t imagine yet. Your confidence will deepen. Your priorities will shift. You’ll become more comfortable being yourself. That doesn’t mean you lose who you are but you will build on it.

Comparison Will Steal More Than It Gives

There will ALWAYS be someone who seems further ahead. But their timeline isn’t yours! Your success won’t come from doing what everyone else is doing. It will come from learning who you are when no one is watching.

UTEP Grad posing on campus with her black gown and pink stole

Confidence Comes From Experience, Not Perfection

You don’t become confident by waiting until you feel ready. You become confident by showing up, trying things, failing a little….. a lot…. and learning what works for you! Confidence is built, not discovered.

The People Who Matter Will Stay

Some friendships will change. Some people will drift away. And, that’s okay! The relationships meant to last will grow with you. NOT HOLD YOU BACK!

High School Senior Girl holding her graduation tassel in a white blouse and burnt orange skirt at memorial park in El Paso.

This Moment Deserves To Be Remembered

One day…. you’ll look back and realize how much changed in a short amount of time. Not just how you looked but how you felt. This season matters. And, it deserves to be remembered with intention.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need to rush becoming the next version of yourself. Be present here. Let yourself be proud. And, trust that you are becoming exactly who you are meant to be. One step at a time.