Here we are. We’ve finally made it to the last stretch. Only 12 more early wake-ups of the year.  Only 12 more late nights studying for finals or AP Exams. Only 12 more days of eating school lunches, sitting in class and lugging around a backpack that’s bound to cause us back problems in the future.

Only 12 more school days left.

Whether it’s your freshman, sophomore, junior or senior year, we can all feel relief with the year coming to a close. Summer is so close we can taste it: warm nights, getting ice cream with friends and staying outside until we’re sunburnt.

So applaud yourself for completing this year of your high school career. Work to finish this year strong; you owe it to yourself. It’s easy to give up and say that you’re “so done.” We all are, but we must find it within ourselves to do the best we can, to get the grades we know we deserve and to make the most of the rest of year. Summer is just around the corner, and you can hang on for just a while longer.

Once summer finally arrives, though, enjoy the fleeting beauty of it. Cherish moments of sleeping in and staying up late for a reason other than just doing homework. Hold on to memories of road trips and vacations across the state, the country or even the world. Refrain from remaining in your room for summer’s entirety. Challenge yourself to experience something new. Explore the city, discover a new book, find a new passion. Learn something you’ve always wanted to know. Summer contains endless possibilities, so take hold of them while you can. We only have so many high school summers and only a few years left to experience being teenagers.

When that final half day comes to an end, remember why you waited so long for this. Grasp your freedom the second it arrives. Seize your summer.