Class of 2020,

You’ve probably read countless blogs or articles about how disappointing life is at this point. You’re probably thinking, “I don’t really want the reminder again…” but stick with me. I think you’ll latch on to this idea. I’m going to get a little personal here and tell you about some of my life experiences coming out of high school and how this time is for sure disappointing, but in the long run, this area of your life is helping you grow and find the silver linings.

Sidenote: I’m that person who is always searching for the silver lining. In every single crappy situation…it’s a weird thing I do, even in the worst of times.

Example: I remember a time right after Dan and I got married. I drove a 1995 (?) hot pink, Ford Escort.

The Barbie Car.

It was the tiniest little car that belonged to my great grandmother, then to my grandmother and then me. When I bought it from my Nana, I think it had like 24,000 miles on it. Picture this: one day, in a rage, my great-grandmother cut the shoulder section of the automatic seat belts out because it messed up her hair. My best friend backed into it with her van and it was not even damaged… guys, that’s how much of a looker we had here.

But it was paid for, the insurance was low and we were broke newlyweds so we drove the wheels off it. One night, Dan and I were coming home from a friend’s wedding ceremony, going about 70 miles per hour, and smashed a deer. I will never in my life forget that sound. The Barbie Car was done for.

My dad and uncle came to our rescue and even though we weren’t hurt, the adrenaline and all the disappointment came crashing down at once and at 27 years old, I ran to my dad and cried. It sucked. But…silver lining… we were perfectly okay when we probably shouldn’t have been — no shoulder belts, remember? And Dan and I got to go car shopping together which was something we never had done before as a couple. We bought a lemon but that’s a story for another day with a different silver lining.

Back to my main point: That was a huge segway so thanks for sticking with me.

I graduated from a large high school in Kansas 15 years ago this May. Oof….

My senior prom was okay. I couldn’t tell you the theme but I know I wore a black dress and my mama curled my hair and my eyebrows were too thin. I remember who I went with and that I nearly died trying to eat tiramisu at the dinner before hand… but honestly, that’s it.

In high school, I was not popular but had friends. And a small group of really close friends that understood that I was just sort of eclectic. Probably weird.

My graduating class was 285 students. There was no grand march at prom, no super cool traditions like feather ceremonies or presentations of star quilts at graduation. No senior slideshow. Just a baccalaureate and then a ceremony.

And I can tell you with every bit of honesty, I don’t remember feeling all that different when everything was said and done. It was memorable and of course it was important, but for me it wasn’t this huge, life changing event. I could not tell you what I wore under my gown at graduation or if my shoes matched.

Spoiler alert: they probably didn’t match what I was wearing.

Two pretty great people from high school <3 Still no clue what I was wearing. Choir buddies.

If you’ve read his far, I know you’re thinking… “Katie, where is this going?”

I’m getting there… geez, I like to build suspense.

The memories I do have, that are crystal clear, even years later?

Packing my car up to live in my very first house that I had to use my own money to pay rent for. I can tell you the color of every tote and probably what every box said. I even remember my landlord’s name. His name was Earl and he was awful.
Renting my very first apartment and getting the okay to paint one of our kitchen walls lime green. Like….LIME green. Electric.
How many steps it took to get to the laundry mat from that apartment and how much money it cost to wash the 8 loads of laundry I washed every single time… heaven forbid I just wash a normal amount at once.
Finding groups on campus that made you feel so at home, the people in it with you are still like family.
How broke we were whenever we made terrible life decisions by eating out every other meal when it came down to the end of the semester. #malldeliforlife
Cruising down Olive Street with the windows down and Paramore blaring at the top of the speakers. It was a green Ford Taurus driven by my best friend — we worked out all of life’s problems and troubles that way.
Graduating with my bachelor’s degree and watching all of my friends leave to start amazing new lives across the country and last minute, I changed my whole course of life and stayed.
Starting my Master’s Degree and making some of the greatest new relationships that got me through some really tough and lonely times.
Being 17 kinds of broke as a college student and somehow, still managing on my own. This lesson prepared me for my expert budgeting skills as a real adult, just by the way.
Packing up my car once again to move two states away from everyone and starting a brand new life in a familiar place.
Countless memories in between and since. And every kind of sense tied to them. Not just the pictures…. the feelings with the memories…

Master’s Degree Graduation — December, 2011

These were all major moments in my life. Full of disappointment, change, emotion (good and bad) but in every way possible prepared me to be an adult. High school is so important but the years after are what shape you, bend you, mold you into being an adult that can handle the tough stuff — no matter which direction you take. It doesn’t have to be college or trade school or anything… the years and time are what matter.

Prom cancelled? Awful. Graduation on the verge of cancelled? Awful. And you have every right to fight against the change and disappointment that this all brings. But, my dears, these likely won’t be the best years of your life. They are for sure not even some of the best moments. This is just a stepping stone to get you to those. If anything, you’re better equipped to enter a world where sometimes, life just isn’t fair. And you’ve got this.

This, right here, right now is your silver lining, my babes. You are that much more prepared to handle life’s curve balls because of everything you’ve endured in the last month.

You’ve likely gotten closer with your family, right before you spread your wings and go out on your own.
You’ve likely spent more time appreciating all the things and experiences you have been able to have as a senior.
You’ve likely been more creative on ways to spend your time and stay connected to who and what’s important.

And that’s something to be applauded.

Every situation has a beginning and an end. Your end wasn’t so great. A lot of your “lasts” feel incomplete. But every situation also has a silver lining. Sometimes, it’s veiled or really small. But even at a sliver, it’s there.

Your futures are oh so bright and it’s only up from here. Your best moments are yet to come.

—xoxo, Katie