Not that I ever doubted that it would someday come, but I’m just not quite sure how it got here so fast. I can still remember my first day of kindergarten. I rode the bus and walked into the school surrounded by “big kids” that I had grown up with. My mom stood on the playground to make sure that I was doing OK.

Now I’m officially a Tonganoxie High School alumnus and next year I’ll be walking on the quad at William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo., without anyone, big kids or mother, to make sure I do OK.

As much as I had waited for this day during the past four years, part of me wishes that I were still a high school freshman. While I am proud of all the things that I was able to accomplish during my tenure as a high schooler, when I look back I can think of so many more things that I would have done.

So I offer the following advice to those students who have yet to graduate.

First: branch out. At the beginning of this year, I decided to give cross country running a try. I had never competed in high school sports, and my one foray into junior high basketball was not much to brag about. I was “un-athletic” and “uncoordinated,” not the athletic type. I allowed the way others perceived me to define me. But breaking that mold that the student population and I had made for me was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

I had so much fun and made so many new friends running cross country. I developed a lifelong skill that will keep me fit for a very long time. The best part of cross country, however, was doing something I never thought I’d be able to do. By branching out, I learned I was capable of so much more than I had previously thought.

Second: get involved. I was active in a lot of different clubs and activities during my time as a high school student. Although you definitely don’t have to be in every club or activity, it’s great to find something about which you are passionate and really get into it. Doing so can provide you with so many opportunities and maybe even a few days out of school. Getting involved can also help you figure out who you are and what you want to do with your life.

Third and finally: have fun. While I certainly did have a lot of fun during high school, a lot of it didn’t come until my senior year, when I started to relax a little bit. Before that, I was stressed and prone to panic attacks (no, I’m not exaggerating). I took everything too seriously, including myself. While there are certainly serious moments in life, when you take it too seriously, it’s not any fun. Loosen up and enjoy life.

Of course, much of this wisdom doesn’t come directly from me. Many lessons learned in high school were taught by two of my classmates who were not able to graduate with the rest of the Class of 2010. Connor Olson and Jeremy Elliot taught us all so much about how to live our lives and inspired many of us to be better people.

As I move on to college, and from there, the big, bad world, the lessons of high school and of my classmates will stay with me. I’ve learned all about math, English and biology, but the life lessons I learned at Tonganoxie High School will get me so much further.

— Baragary recently completed his senior-year internship with The Mirror newspaper.