It’s still hard to believe that in just two weeks I’ll be graduating from high school. The last four years have come and gone so quickly, and that’s not just me being cliche or trying to evoke sadness from my peers and friends. For someone who is only 18 years old, four years of high school is a huge chunk of time, almost a quarter of my life.

I remember what it was like starting high school, way back in 2013. I wasn’t so much nervous as I was anxious. Growing up, I watched so many movies and TV shows about high school that all painted the same picture, an image that stuck with me through the end of middle school. Yes, some aspects of those movies are true, but in reality, high school is what you make it, so make it awesome.

Whether you’re just starting your freshman year or counting down the days until freedom, high school is different for everyone. There are people who will make you feel happy and good about yourself. These are the people you want to surround yourself with. These are the people who will stick with you through thick and thin, and one thing that I have always really appreciated was finding these people early.

Not everyone likes everyone, especially in high school. Some people go out of their way to either annoy or put others down. Avoid them. Ignore them. And most importantly, forget them. They’re not worth it. Four years may seem like a long time, but in the grand scheme of things, it’s too short to waste time with the wrong people.

I would say the biggest piece of advice I can give is to do everything. Go to prom, to Spirit Night, to the football and basketball games. Dress up for Halloween and spirit days, go all out, and get involved in your grade. Make your voice heard, try new things, and just have fun. As an underclassman, it was so easy to take these things for granted. “Oh, don’t worry,” I’d say to myself. “I’ll do it next year.” But eventually there won’t be a next year, and you’ll regret not going out and making the most of high school, so do everything when you have the opportunity.

Senior year is a mix of weird emotions. You can’t wait to be done and move on to bigger and better things, but at the same time it’s hard to say goodbye to everything and everyone you’ve known for so many years. Make sure to tell people how much you appreciate them, whether it be friends or teachers. Cherish your last year of school because there are so many people you might never see again after graduation.

Basically, make the most out of high school, because before you know it you’ll be in college or working and you’ll be forced to be an adult, which isn’t really as fun as being a teenager. Find the right people, do the right thing, and enjoy yourself. You’ll want to be able to look back at high school and say that you did it right.