When you're at the end of your senior year you're just ready to be done. The only things you really cared about were prom and graduation. Since prom has passed, you're really only waiting on the big day. Some people are dreading it, they don't want to leave their friends and they don't want the feeling of being invincible to go away. Others however, cannot wait to pack up their childhood room, move into college, and start over. No matter what end of the spectrum you fall on, there are a few things you need to do before you start college.
1. Thank your teachers.
No matter your relationship with them, they deserve praise. You won't realize until you're halfway through the semester how much they actually taught you. Plus they had to put up with you and your friends goofing off the past four years, the least you can do is thank them. Everyone has that one teacher who impacted their life more than just in the classroom, but they also taught you plenty of life lessons. Make sure you give them an even bigger thank you. No matter how much you think you won't, you will miss seeing them everyday.
2. Hangout with your class.
Whether it's by senior skip day, a senior trip, a senior prank, or even a one of the endless graduation parties just do it. I highly doubt you know everything about everyone you're graduating with. Talk to someone you normally wouldn't. It might surprise you how much you have in common with someone you never thought you would.
3. Hangout with your family.
I know you're probably planning every single day of the summer to hangout with your friends, which is okay. Just be sure you add some days in there to hangout with your family. You're probably thinking, I can see my family whenever I want but my friends are all going to different colleges Yeah, it's rue you won't see your friends everyday anymore, but you won't see your family either. When you're up at 3 a.m. studying for a final, you're going to wish you could just run back home and sleep in your own bed. When you don't feel good, all you're going to want is your mom to come take care of you. You're going to miss your family no matter how much you swear you won't, trust me.
4. Go out with a bang.
Your senior year, you all were on top of the world. You were the oldest in the school, you sat in front of the student section, everyone wanted to be you all year long. As soon as graduation is over, so is all of that. The juniors take over, and by the time the next school year begins no one really cares about the past class. Here's some advice, make them. Be memorable and leave your mark on the town. When your homesick and missing your friends, you'll think back to all theses memories and it'll make you smile.
5. Enjoy it.
People either say high school is the best or worst four years of your life. I don't believe either one of those statements. If you felt like high school was the worst thing in the world, there definitely more challenging things you will encounter in your life besides mean girls and rumors. If you're a believer that nothing will ever surpass how amazing high school was, trust me there are far better things that have yet to come. Either way there will be times you want to go back. Maybe it's because you'll miss seeing your friends everyday, maybe you'll miss playing sports, or maybe you'll miss 3 page papers when you're in the middle of writing a 15 page one. So regardless enjoy the few moments you have with the people you've known forever, because in a few months you're entire world is going to change. It is both terrifying and wonderful.
