By Anna Puckett / Guest Columnist

As graduation draws closer for the class of 2014, many seniors begin to reminisce on their senior year memories and memories from the life they had known the past 17 or 18 years.

They begin to remember their childhood friends and all of the games they played and fun they had. They remember the awkwardly humorous middle school years filled with finding their niche.

Then, they begin to remember their first day of freshman year, walking into a brand new school feeling alone and slightly frightened. They remember all of the growing and fun things that happened over the past four years: Getting driver’s permits and licenses, finding true friends, going to sporting events, pep rallies, talent shows, and musicals and actually learning stuff in school.

As senior year started, the energy and expectations were high. The seniors had finally made it to the top of the food chain.

Everyone was deciding which college they would go to or what they were going to do after high school. Everyone was ready for the senior perks and had been told that senior year flies by.

The entire learning experience has led up to the bittersweet moment of graduation, which came surprisingly fast, even though there had been warning. Seniors are not ready to leave their friends, which will be moving all over the state and even country, and are scared to start new after working so long to find their place, yet they are ready for the change.

College is the time when people will make their life long friends, some people will meet their future spouses and everyone will be studying for their future career. It will be the first time most students will live on their own and not have their parents to go home to every day.

I know that I for one am excited and nervous both to be going off to college and leaving my family, friends and my dog. But for seniors, graduation is not actually an end like it is portrayed, it is actually a beginning, so as the looming day comes closer, seniors, with myself included, are sad to be leaving their current life but are excited for the life ahead of them.