By Sarah Mahan

The Selma Times-Journal

The end of last month ushered in a new class of graduating seniors and marked the year anniversary of me turning my tassel while walking across a graduation ceremony’s stage.

I spent my senior year of high school lying to myself, thinking I had tons of time before college. As I’m sure many of this year’s seniors would agree, classes, dances, and graduation parties caused the time to fly by, and before I knew it, my parents were leaving me in my dorm room before my first week of classes.

In the midst of watching old friendships change and new one’s form, attending lectures, and cheering at football games (Roll Tide!), I lost track of the number of times I thought, “I am in way over my head here,” while at college. Even now, while writing for the newspaper I grew up reading, I sometimes feel that way.

There have been times during the past year when I haven’t been sure how everything was going to work out, but I would be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy myself. I have learned more in one year than I would have imagined possible.

This year’s graduates may be thrilled to be graduating and have a similar story to mine a year from now, or they may still be unsure about their next step. Regardless of each graduate’s future, throwing graduation caps in the air will bring change.

I offer just one small piece of advice for this year’s graduate: give it a year, whether that is a year of school or a year to figure out the next step.

One year can bring quite a change in perspective. I found myself surprised to be wishing there were just a few more weeks left of school before summer began.