Well, I can now call myself a Cherry Creek High School alum, which is a little weird to think about. Creek has meant and given so much to me these past four years that it is a little odd saying goodbye. But my excitement for the next four years makes it easier to do so.

I think it’s always worthwhile to look back and learn from past experiences, especially during a transition like this, but at some point the past is the past and it’s the future you must look to. That’s the point I’m at now. I’ve had time over this graduation period to think about all the great experiences I had and lessons I learned from high school, but now I’m getting excited for my next phase — college.

Moving on to college will be different. That’s for sure. But as I remember saying in one of my first blogs, different isn’t necessarily bad. In fact, I believe it can be quite good. And I think the attitude I go into college with, the attitude I experience “different” with, will help to determine whether “different” turns out to be good or bad. So, I’m going to enter college with an open mind and a good attitude, because I can at least control those two things.

Saying goodbye to friends I’ve had since kindergarten and a life at home will probably be difficult, but I’m glad it’s difficult. Because if it were easy, it would mean that the life I led here was not particularly meaningful, and it most certainly was.

Making new friends and living on my own will be exciting. That’s what I’m focusing on. It will be fun to meet a whole new group of people, many of whom I look forward to calling my friends. And living on my own is something I’ve been looking forward to for a long time now because of the freedom and independence it entails.

All in all, I believe that the way you approach situations is almost as important as the situation itself in determining its outcome. So, as I get ready for next year now that the past four have come to a close, I feel a little better knowing that I have some control over the next step by looking at it in a positive light.

But in the meantime, over the summer before next year starts, I plan on taking full advantage of my friendships and family at home. I believe we seniors have earned this summer and I plan on having a blast before college!

To those other graduates out there, enjoy the next step and go into it with a positive mindset, and to those still in high school, remember that there is no substitute for hard work and being prepared — it’s all worth it in the end, I promise.