I used to know Monday Mornings

Graduating from school is probably one of the toughest phases of ones life. A place that has been your entire world for over ten years will suddenly cease to exist. You know every nook, corner and crevice of your school building. You can identify old cracks and spot new ones. Your corridors belong to you and your friends. It’s your domain and no one can take that away from you, up until now that is. You pack your bags, empty your desk, bid goodbye to those who helped shape more than just your future, but helped you grow into an individual.

Things are going to change. Life is going to take many unexpected turns. Best friends will grow apart and new friends will grow close. New hobbies will replace old ones and you will suddenly be forced to grow up. You’ll have to make choices that will affect the rest of your life. Questions like, ‘should I study abroad? What if I don’t get into my top 5 colleges, what will I do? Should I concentrate on college or pursue my dream of acting or, take a gap year and backpack around the world?’ will take over your very existence.

You will be at constant battle with yourself. You will turn into your worst enemy. You’re biggest fear will stem from what comes next? Because for the first time in all your seventeen years, you’ll have no idea what tomorrow is going to be about. You’ll no longer recognize Monday, or any other day that follows. Everyday will be replaced with uncertainty mixed with excitement and topped with fear.  And as the time to send in your applications nears, your heart beat will be louder than the your ‘drum phase’

But just like your drum phase, this too, is a phase. Soon things will become clearer and the unexpected turns will take you in a whole new direction.  You’ll go down a path of self -discovery all over again. College is like an introduction to real life without the harsh realities that accompany real life. You are still protected yet you’re on your own.

You’ll finally be able to focus on the things you love most and excel. You will learn things about yourself that even you didn’t think were possible. Everyday will bring with it new surprises, expectations, goals, and laughter.

There is a lot to look forward to. Even though you feel the life you have always known is coming to an end, the truth is, the rest of your life has only just begun.