Graduation is a time to celebrate and take pride in the hard work that brought you to this day. It's a time to look forward to a future of limitless possibilities, as well as an opportunity to give thanks to parents, friends and teachers who contributed to your success. But as most high school seniors know, it is mostly a moment to reflect over the years that have passed and acknowledge the enormous changes that are about to occur.
Along with the processional, the diplomas and the speeches, all commencement exercises have songs. Their themes deal with holding on to the things you love, the things you never want to lose and how to stay in touch with friends. Their words speak of the importance of relationships. Some favorites were written before this year's high school graduates were even born. There's Billy Joel's, "This Is The Time To Remember, 'cause it will not last forever, these are the days to hold onto, cause we won't although we want to..." And, "Don't You Forget About Me," by Simple Minds whose line, "will you recognize me, call my name or walk on by," explains what happens when years go by and classmates don't stay in touch with friends.
After graduation, even the closest friendships require time and effort to maintain. Whatever path your friends choose, chances are you won't be walking the same one. Here are some tips to help stay in touch with friends as you leave the small world of high school and enter the big world known as the rest of your life.
The most important thing is to stay in touch with friends. You might be surprised to learn that keeping up with your friends will require work. You must find time to make calls, send emails, IM, and text. While you might think that's a no brainer, when you're no longer in the same school, you're not sharing the same day-to-day experiences. Some find communicating is less heart-to-heart and more like newsy updates. A relationship you thought was deep could show itself to be rooted in shared experiences rather than a lifelong bond. Be prepared that some of your more superficial friendships might not survive this change. As you move beyond the corridors of your high school, your peer group is going to expand and evolve. You will make new friendships that may be deeper and more fulfilling than you can imagine. As this happens, it is inevitable that it gets hard to stay in touch with friends. Some might disappear, others will evolve into acquaintances, and some might become closer and more important than they were in high school. Decide which friendships are most worthy of your time. Change is a normal part of growing up and even though sometimes it feels heartbreaking, you will endure and survive.
Once you have decided on the primary friendships from both your old and new worlds, you will have to play the bridge between them. Never ditch one group for another. Always stick with the plans you made first. Be honest about who you are with or what you are doing. And never give up trying to bring the two spheres together.
