“I got my hands up, they’re playin’ my song / They know I’m gonna be okay /”

“/ Yeah, it’s a party in the U.S.A. / Yeah, it’s a party in the U.S.A.”

Man, I hated this song in high school. Miley Cyrus. Hannah Montana. Whatever. Who cares? But now, whenever I hear it on the radio, or it surprises me on a random playlist, I sing along. And I remember how this song played at my senior prom, my friends’ graduation parties, and in the car on the way to the beach, just one song in a montage of memories of my high school years. I didn’t realize it at the time, but “Party in the USA” became an unofficial anthem for my senior year.

That was fifteen years ago. Back when we made mix CDs. Now, making a playlist is as easy as tapping (+) on Spotify. So, what’s on your playlist, Class of 2025? In these last few days of high school, you are no doubt reflecting on your four years here. Your teachers, classes, teams, clubs. Your accomplishments and setbacks, W’s and L’s. Like Ferris Bueller said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

So, go back and replay these scenes in your head:

– Walking into the wrong classroom.

– Having a “heart-to-heart” with a teammate after a game or performance.

– Showing your school spirit at a pep rally with the cheerleaders, mascot and football team.

– Pulling an all nighter before a test or project.

– Pointing out how all of the social cliques are seated together in the lunchroom. (jocks, nerds, band kids, etc.)

– Walking in slow-motion down a crowded hallway in a wacky outfit on a spirit day.

– Watching someone sing, dance, or perform unexpectedly and nailing it.

– Watching a big promposal followed by a heartbreak or a tearful “yes.”

– Ditching school to go explore downtown Chicago with your best friends.

– Ending high school with a freeze frame of everyone smiling, hugging, or throwing their graduation caps up in the air.

Because these things only happen in the movies, right?

Reflect on these moments, and go find just the right song to fit the scene. Put them in a playlist. Press play. And listen to the soundtrack of your own version of “High School: The Movie.”

Later, this summer, after graduation, when you’re in the car with your friends driving down the open road, with high school behind you and the rest of your life in front of you, don’t forget to roll the windows down. And turn the music up.

Congratulations, Class of 2025. Best of luck!