1. Do the scholarship you've been ignoring.
Please do it. School is expensive and the earlier you finish it, all of them, the less likely you are to have an existential crisis after school in your car for the fifth time this week. Loans are terrifying and scholarships can sometimes be too, but they're trying to help you.
2. Just say yes to going out with your friends.
Everything you're invited to has the potential to be your last. The last dinner date or ice cream date or study break at your best friends house. If you have to chose between sleeping or going to the late game or competition or concert or performance, please choose the latter. Take some pictures and make some memories for Facebook to remind you of in a year when you don't get to everyone anymore.
3. Eat dinner when it's made for you.
DO NOT TAKE ANY FOOD YOUR FAMILY PROVIDES FOR YOU FOR GRANTED. YOU WILL MISS IT SO MUCH NEXT YEAR.
4. Soak in the holidays, all of them.
Even though some of your relatives aren't your favorite, grin and bear it. Holidays aren't going to be the same after this year and you aren't living at home anymore. It'll feel even more uncomfortable so enjoy still being considered a "kid".
5. Hug your friends a lot
You might go to the same school as them, or not live very far away from each other, but things will still change. You'll get busier, you won't have as much time for each other anymore, and when you do see each other, it'll be rare and not for very long.
6. Enjoy your high school finals.
YOU MAY THINK THEY'RE HARD NOW BUT TRUST ME YOU DON'T KNOW YET. I don't mean to be demeaning, I know your classes are hard and you're stressed, but honey, there's a big storm coming because nothing compares to Dead Week and the one that follows.
7. Lay in your bed for a little bit longer on the weekends.
It's so large, even if it's a twin back home, it's so much larger than a twin XL. I think they take inches off of the sides to add to the bottom. Bask in the luxury, spread out, do snow angels in your sheets.
8. Shower for a little bit longer, every time.
Enjoy the water pressure. Feel the shower floor under your bare feet. Sing as loud as you can. Grab your shampoo and body wash from the shelf instead of a shower caddy. Hang out in your towel for as long as you want afterwards.
9. Cherish your sports even if you're getting tired of them.
It's the last time you'll participate in them. The last time you'll see your fans in the bleachers, the last time you'll wear your high school uniform or jersey or costume, and the last time you'll win or lose with some of your best friends. But, even if you go on to play any of your sports in college, they get a little more serious and your teammates and coaches will be brand new.
10. Appreciate your car.
You don't understand the freedom of having a car, even if you share it, and being able to drive yourself to the store for milk after you shake the last drop from the carton. If your future school a) has cheap enough parking passes, b) has enough parking for your car to not be a mile and a half walk away, and c) allows freshmen to even bring a car onto campus, consider yourself very lucky.
