By PAIGE ESLINGER

Staff Writer

It’s been a crazy four years here at Piedmont. 

It’s amazing to think that it’s about to be over.

I’ve made friends who I will be friends with for life, learned so much about teaching and learned so many things about myself.

One huge thing that I think everyone should be able to do is keep your head up.

There are so many times when you’re sad, upset and hurting and you just want to curl up in a ball and cry. 

Don’t do it.

When you’re down is the time when you have to be the strongest. 

I’ve learned that having the ability to push through and persevere can be one of the best character traits a person can have. 

My family has always been very supportive of me and I have amazing friends who help me push through the hard times.

I’m so thankful for that.

As I move on to the real world, I know that it will be a little more difficult without having my friends and family by my side all the time, but it’s going to be okay.

Another thing that I think is helpful is to be yourself.

We go through life trying to make others happy and do what we think is the best but sometimes we forget to do this for ourselves. 

Happiness comes from within, and if we rely on others to make us happy, it’s going to be hard to ever reach that.

Yes, it’s wonderful to be with someone and have friends who make you happy, but there comes a time when they might not be able to be there to make you happy. 

You have to make sure that you can be content with who you are and what you have to offer others before you can be dependent on others being there for you.

I hope that everyone enjoys the rest of the time that they have here and learns a lot.

It’s time for me to move on to the next phase of my life, whatever it may be.

Life is all about the choices we make and how we deal with the blessings and consequences. 

Live it up and don’t look back because it’s all just one crazy ride and we’re hanging on for all the fun it brings.