This time of year always makes me a bit reflective on my high school years, especially when I start reading all of the senior biographies the newspaper has been printing for the past two weeks.

     If I had only known then what I know now …

     We all have our “what if I’d (fill in the blank)” moments. I really wouldn’t call them regrets, but we’ve all said that phrase at one time or another about something.

     Have you ever wondered what your life would have been like had you taken a different path in life – married a different person, studied a different skill, joined the military or not, or lived in another city?

     I look at all of these young people graduating from high school and I think to myself, they have their whole lives ahead of them. What will they become? What kind of jobs will they get? Will they go to college? Will they get married and have children? Will they come back to Brookhaven to live or will they fly the nest and make their marks in other cities of the world? What kind of person will these new 2012 graduates turn out to be?

     High school graduates pretty much have a blank slate. They can do and be anything or anyone they want. The sky’s the limit.

     It’s all about choice.

     From reading the senior biographies, the majority of graduates seem to be attending college. Some are forgoing the academic world and are heading straight into the workforce. Some have set their sights on fame and want to be actors, actresses, singers, songwriters and/or producers. I saw where several want to study politics. And we have a lot of grads who wish to join the medical profession.

     I would love to read a senior spotlight from 10 or 20 years ago and see how many graduates actually followed through with their dreams and became what they wrote on their papers as seniors in high school.

     Even though at age 18 I thought I was grown and knew everything there was to know about the world, I know now that I was just a naïve child.

     Like everyone else, I’ve made mistakes and I’ve had to learn my lessons the hard way. But looking back, those mistakes and difficult lessons have molded me into the person I’ve become today.

     Much like the graduates of today, they’re all going to be making their own decisions now, and good or bad, they’re going to learn their lessons and become the people they are destined to be.

     I was in too much of a hurry to grow up when I was 18. I wanted to be out in the world, have my own say, be my own boss, so-to-speak, and not be told by anyone else what to do. How surprising it was to me to find out that parents are just replaced by other authority figures. There is always someone to answer to now and ultimately in the end.

     When I look at the class photographs from each school I wonder, am I looking at a future president of the United States or the next Brad Pitt or perhaps the next Madonna?

     The future is wide open and the possibilities are endless.

     Congratulations, high school graduates of 2012. You’ve worked very hard these past 12-plus years. Make wise choices for your futures and don’t be in such a big hurry to grow up. The stresses and realities of the world can wait. Enjoy your youth and bright futures.

     And how was your week?

     Lifestyles Editor Tammie Brewer can be reached at The DAILY LEADER at (601) 833-6961 ext. 134, by e-mail at tbrewer@dailyleader.com or you can write to her at P.O. Box 551, Brookhaven MS 39602.