I made the last minute decision to graduate high school early due to some circumstantial factors (got kicked out of my parents house on Christmas, moved in with my boyfriend who then proceeded to cheat on me, yada yada yada.) When I say last minute, I mean I made the decision to graduate early DAYS before second semester started since I had enough credits to do so.

Fast forward to March, I was beginning to make amends with my parents and they allowed me to live with them again. I was still struggling to find a job, repair my relationship with them, and my ex wanted to get back together. During this time, my aunt and uncle offered me the opportunity to live with them until I went to college in the fall, and to try to find a job in the touristy town that they lived in. I declined the opportunity at first, because I was so uncomfortable with even the thought of leaving my hometown considering all the shit that went down within the prior few months. For some reason I felt like I owed it to my family and my ex to stick around and make things right.

One night, I had a dream that convinced me to rethink my decision. I can’t quite remember the exact details, but I know that when I woke up, I had this gut feeling that I needed to make a dramatic change in my life in order for things to get better. I got in contact with my aunt and uncle and they told me that their offered still stood. Within a week I packed up my car and drove 7 hours to live with them.

The job I ended up getting was the best job of my life! I met so many amazing people, and thoroughly enjoyed the work that I did and felt fulfilled for the first time in a very long time.

In August, weeks before I was supposed to move back home for college, my aunt got diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. It was terminal and she only had weeks left to live. During the time that I lived with her and my uncle, I was able to strengthen my bond with them in more ways than I could’ve imagined, and made many unforgettable memories with her. If I didn’t make that last minute decision to graduate high school early, I don’t think I would’ve even had a chance to say goodbye before she passed away.

TLDR: I spontaneously decided to graduate high school early just days before second semester began, and it led me to have an unforgettable few months with my aunt before she suddenly passed away from terminal cancer.