A Letter to My Son and All High School Seniors

I remember the days when Chase thought that it was still cool to have his dad talk about him on the radio. Those days ended a few years ago. I never minded editing what I shared about him when he became a teenager. He still made the show more times than he'll ever know. But today, I can't not talk about him, because today is the first day of his senior year in high school. I have a senior. The phrase itself makes ME feel like a senior. A senior citizen. Today I am filled with all kinds of emotions and there are some things that I want to pass on to Chase and anyone else entering their final year of high school.

Throw your inhibitions to the wind. If you've ever had the slightest thought about doing something, whether it be going out for a sport, asking someone to homecoming, or prom, this is your last chance to do it. Yes, you can have fun in high school without those things, but don't look back at the end of the year and wish that you'd done more. Use your senior year to begin exploring who you really are as a person, as an adult.

Don't think that you have to have life figured out. Some of your classmates have a career path already chosen. They have colleges picked out and majors declared. Don't feel the pressure. Be open to any career path that might present itself this year or early on should you choose to go to college. But don't feel like college is your only option. There are plenty of trade schools and other options available that would make a fine career and earn you great wages.

Finally, respect the passage of time. It probably feels like to you that the school year lasts forever. But I can't explain to you how quickly the last 18 years have flown by. I can remember rocking you to sleep before I went to work in the morning. I remember playing video games together and watching sports on TV. I remember when you thought that I was your best friend. I knew that those times wouldn't last forever, but I never expected to feel such finality to it all. Watching your kids grow into adults is incredibly rewarding and scary all at the same time. I hope that you remember some of the things we told you. I hope you have learned from my examples and my mistakes.

So, Chase, I know you hate me talking about you. But I am proud of the person you are only beginning to become. Use this final year of high school to continue that process and make sure and make plenty of memories in the process. Someday you'll look back and remember this year as one of the greatest in your life.

Until you have a son.