As I get ready to throw my hat into the air at graduation in a few weeks, I want to leave behind a few points for seniors who will come after me. People aren’t joking when they say that high school goes by in the blink of an eye, and senior year goes by even quicker. But as with any closing of a chapter, is the start of a new one. So, incoming seniors, here is your survival guide that I am giving to you. Enjoy this final year of school and reward yourself for how far you have come.
- Prepare yourself for life after high school
College is not for everyone, so do not fall into the trap of thinking you have to go to college. However, seriously consider whether or not you want to receive additional schooling and be honest with yourself about what your goals are. You don’t have to have everything figured out, but it’s important to at least know your next step. CHS does a wonderful job of preparing seniors for all of the complicated procedures of college applications, and transcript requests and making sure all your ducks are in a row before graduation. Use this school year to tour colleges; and if you’re unhappy with your SAT or ACT scores, you can retake it, but remember that it is not the end of the world and plenty of colleges don’t look at those scores. And incoming seniors, complete your bucket two as soon as you possibly can!
2. Don’t wait around for college-related tasks
With what I explained in point one, I urge all incoming seniors to not hesitate to apply for scholarships and college and also ask teachers or employers for letters of recommendation as soon as possible. Get friendly with the Counseling Department because they are here to help you figure these steps out. This past school year, the Counseling Department held several meetings to help students create their college applications. If this is offered again in the fall, I implore you to go. It’s absolutely worth giving up a few SRT periods to get this done. Even if you are not going to college or don’t want to, I still suggest you apply to a few different schools. You can always change your mind, but having college acceptance as a backup plan can help you in the long run. Always check the Counseling Office for new scholarships and be cautious of deadlines. Also, keep your eyes peeled for when FAFSA rolls around so that you can see how much money you qualify for for financial aid. Overall, make sure you have a plan. You can go to college, go into a trade, take a gap year- whatever it is, make sure you know what your next plan of action is. If you do decide to apply for college, don’t freak out if you’re rejected or waitlisted either. Sometimes things we want don’t pan out because something better is coming our way.
3. Try to keep a light schedule
AP classes are great if they serve your academic goals. I completed two AP classes during my junior year, allowing me extra scheduling space during my senior year. I was able to take more electives and even had two SRT periods. If you can, I highly recommend keeping as light a schedule as possible so that homework isn’t as major of a concern as it was before. Senior year is also a great time to explore fun classes you might not have had the chance to try out before.
4. Beware of senioritis during the fourth quarter
As mentioned previously, having mild schedules during your senior year is great and also helps to keep senioritis at bay. I went throughout my entire senior year without senioritis, that is, until we hit the fourth quarter. You think you’re in the clear, and bam! No motivation, you’re exhausted, and you want to escape the clutches of Canvas for good. But hold on just a little bit longer, give yourself rest when you need it, and power through. Senioritis is never easy, but there is consolation in knowing that it doesn’t last forever.
5. Have fun!
Cliché? You betcha, but definitely make room for all the fun and goofy high school things, even if you find them pointless. This year is the year for you to try things you never did (within reason). For instance, I never used my locker during high school, so it was my mission to find it and open it at least once. Senior year also has so many exciting milestones and activities like attending prom, sporting events, theatre and music performances, and other senior-specific occasions like Senior Banquet and Senior Night. Make sure you do all of these things because you are only going to get this opportunity now, you’ll never have it again, so seize it.
With all this being said, I sincerely hope that you take my advice and have a wonderful senior year.
All the best,
Erin