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Well.... I graduate Thursday and I have mixed emotions about it. I’m so happy to be done with school because the stress it’s caused me is finally being destroyed. (At least for now). But on the other hand this last mouth I have probably made some of my best friends I have ever had and it makes me sad to go(they are like 2 grades younger then me). Though I’ll still see them when we hang out it will be different then the laughs we shared every day.Also it makes me sad because I’m not really gonna have anything to de anymore. I’m gonna have to make a new routine and a big part of me will always feel missing.... anyways, how did you guys feel when your graduated (if you did). Do you ever misss high school?

I had a lot of relief and excitement when I graduated, because I thought I'd finally figured out what I wanted to do with my life, and did so just in time to pull myself together and graduate on time. I was also looking forward to moving out of where I was (one of those tiny towns that devours people, specifically in a rented house that was falling apart while the owner ignored our requests for repairs).

I don't miss high school specifically, but I do keep getting these weird nostalgia cravings that make me want to walk through a school. Any school, so long as it's got a school vibe. Doesn't even matter what level. Buuut I'm a childless 30-year-old, so that's not really something I can get away with.

It'll probably take years for you to stop dreaming about school and/or waking up thinking you're running late for school. I think the last school dream I recall having was just a year or two ago, but at least is was a "visiting where I used to go to school" dream. Still wasn't great. Everyone forgot I exist again in it. *shrugs*

But, uh... yeah, it's weird how suddenly everyone likes you senior year. Especially underclassmen. Iunno.

Congrats, though!

I didn't graduate, however, I dropped out when I was 16, during the beginning of my Junior year because I was so miserable, I couldn't handle it. I was at my wits end. My life was so much better after high school. Granted it was difficult to get onto a productive schedule, and I was personally dealing with a bunch of heavy mental health stuff so I didn't get on track until the last year or so with my career and life.

I still have dreams about being in high school and sometimes I miss it until I remembered what it was really like for me. I think what I miss is just not having the pressure of having to get further into my career, having to work to make money, getting older and people having those expectations for me. I don't actually miss getting up at 5:30 in the morning, dragging myself through the hallways all day.

High School was a huge source of anxiety for me, so after leaving I felt a weight off my shoulders.

One piece of advice I can give you is not to let your sleep schedule change to something drastically different. I'd say bump it only two-three hours forwards. So if during school you would go to bed around 9-10, don't go to bed any later than midnight, and don't get up any later than 9am. I say this as a night owl. I love the night, but admittedly after a few years of having a 4am-1pm sleep schedule, I kinda miss being up in the morning and having more daylight to work in. It really helps with my mental health.

Congratulations by the way!

I just graduated last week. I don't miss it. I didn't have many friends and most everyone in my school was annoying.

I actually loooooooved high school a lot and had very mixed feelings about graduating -- I was psyched to head off to university and live on my own, but my high school classes/friends/teachers were all great and leaving that behind felt pretty sad because, like you say, even if you keep in touch it feels like it's not really gonna be the same. Now, though, I don't miss it that much. I don't know if you're planning on going to uni at any point, but if you are you'll probably make new/more friends there. You'll get more friends whatever it is you end up doing!

And I don't keep in touch with absolutely everyone I hung out with in high school, but I still talk to a lot of them and see them as often as I can. Yeah, the way you interact won't be exactly the same once you're not spending all day together, but it's not like your relationship gets worse, just different. You'll have lots of new things to talk about and laugh about just by dint of the fact that you're not in the same place all the time, you know?

Anyway, congrats on graduating!!! It's a real achievement and you should feel proud of yourself!

Congrats! You made it!

I haven't graduated yettt... But in a few weeks I'll be free and officially a student at UCONN.

I have to say, I'm so happy to be graduating. High school wasn't horrible, but I did have some of the worst years of my (albeit very, very) short life while being a student there. And I have to say, it did not help any pre-existing issues I already had.

I did meet some great people who I'm probably not going to talk to afterwards. This doesn't really bother me as much as it probably should...

I just think of it as starting a whole new chapter in your life. Kind of like literally opening a new sketchbook or journal. You've got the opportunity and time to get involved in any new hobbies you might've wanted to try. You're going to get the chance to meet new people and make some great friends too. Plus more time to RP

Thank you for all you’re thoughts and words on this! It’s definitely a relief knowing I’m done. Like I said it’s just gonna be different, I’m gonna have to find a new routine. But I’m definitely glad im done just kinda sad too

Oh god. I’m in such a small community so I literally know everyone and it’s hard to leave because I will miss them. Even the super annoying people that I hate rn, I’ll miss dearly once I graduate. I still have no idea what I’m going to do with my life but I got a couple of years to figure it out.

I officially graduate June 7th. Personally, I won't miss it. I came back to school after homeschooling throughout middle school, so I was immediately written off as a strange, awkward girl who couldn't do well with people. (Because that's every homeschooler, right? ) Sure, I made friends, with a group of people who didn't fit in well either, but it's taken these four years for me to realize how toxic and rude they are. In all honesty, they might be the reason my depression soared.

That doesn't mean I won't cry, though. I do so much better at getting to know adults than I do people my own age, so many of my teachers I consider very close friends. Hell, I have the email of my former Earth and Environmental teacher, and the phone numbers of my AP lit and Physics teachers. They've helped me so much throughout the years. And all three of them are the ones that told me to pursue my dream in writing. They helped shape me into who I am today, and I thank them for it.

I'm kind of ready for a new routine. Look at it as an adventure. It's gonna be a lot easier that way, and a lot more fun. Don't worry, accept everything coming your way - it's gonna be fine. I'm not saying everything is going to be sparkling and beautiful every step of the way, but this is a new chapter in life. The fact that you're graduating says that you're ready for it. So greet it with open arms! All of you graduates are going to thrive!

It’s been about forty three years since I graduated high school, but I remember thinking many of the same thoughts you express. I was a bit of a party animal in high school so when graduation hit, the sad bit was I would never see many of my friends again as they were scattering off in to various places. In those days if you didn’t know where someone lived or had their phone number, you lost touch.

I had a party-summer after graduation, then as August rolled around, I realised I didn’t really have a plan. I almost joined the Navy; I almost went to Alaska with a friend, but ended up instead enrolling in a two year tech college course. I learned a skill while still partying, and at the end of that two years, I landed my first full time corporate job and found out my girlfriend was pregnant in the same week. I had to start seriously adulting ...

I don’t think anyone is really ready for graduation. After growing up going to school year after year, you are handed a diploma and sent on your merry way and life happens. As much as I didn’t like much of my high school years, I look upon them fondly now.

I’ve come to know a few young folk here on RPR who are graduating, and I have to say I feel good about the future. You all will do good, even if things don’t go according some plan. Embrace the unknown and do the best you can.