Dear “Too-Cool-For-School” Second Semester High School Senior,
Senior year hasn’t been the easy final lap that you thought it would be. All fall you worked endlessly on college applications. You bugged teachers over and over again about getting their recommendations in on time. All while taking 3 AP classes, keeping up your GPA, and playing a fall sport. Oh, and I almost forgot the job you work after school and on the weekends.
Then the winter came around and you were relieved to find out that all of your applications are complete and submitted. You thought this was going to be a sigh of relief, yet your anxiety levels are still through the roof. That’s because you’re probably anxiously waiting for big bulky envelopes to arrive in the mail every day after school. Your best friend just got into Penn but you haven’t heard back yet. Temple said they would let you know before January 10th but it’s January 15th and you still haven’t heard anything. You didn’t get into your first choice so all you can hope is that the letter from your second choice is on its way.
But then, all at once, your future rests in the envelope you hold in your hand. You get the acceptance from the college you will soon call home and now you just can’t wait until graduation.
Relax and enjoy the next four months because before you know it you’ll be starting the next chapter of your life. I know, I know. You can’t wait to get out of the hell hole that you’ve called high school for the past 4 years. You can’t wait to be independent and live life on your own. Let me guess. You’re counting down the days until graduation. I get it, you’re excited; however, while your first semester may have seemed like it went on forever, trust me, second semester is about to fly by.
Spend the next few months with that in mind. Keep working hard, because yes you still have to go to class after you get accepted to college. Study for your AP exams and pass your finals. Trust your guidance counselors when they say that colleges will still check up on you before graduation.
I don’t care how cheesy you think the senior prom, the senior dinner, or the football games are. Go to them. Take pictures at them. You’re going to want to look back at those days in college. When it’s finals week and you’re stressed out of your mind looking at the picture of you and your best friends from prom night is going to calm you down just enough to get you through the day.
Spend the next few months being a good person. Say hi to the people you see in the hallway. Compliment the girl that sits next to you in your math class. Make a good lasting impression on the people around you because most of them you won’t see after graduation.
It’s the little moments that seem insignificant that you are going to think back to. The nights when you stay up until 3 am just watching movies and eating pizza with your friends. The days spent having conversations with your teachers about life and not about the subject they teach. The bus ride home from your last away game or the time spent with your teammates while watching the JV team’s game. Singing with your best friend on the drive home from school. Don’t take advantage of these moments because soon everything will be different. Spend as much time at the local diner that you and your friends love going to because soon you’ll have a new favorite place with your new favorite people.
Spend time with your family and friends. Let your mom cook your dinner because soon you’ll do anything to have her homemade pasta sauce instead of the crap they try to feed you at the dining hall. Tell your dad about how your game was because soon he’ll be too far away to stay involved. Spend the day with your little sister at the mall because it’s going to be a big adjustment for her when you leave. Make your best friend’s birthday a big deal because next year you may not all be together for it.
No matter how much you claim to hate high school, make the most of it. One day you’re going to miss it. Senior year is going to be one of the best memories of your life so for now, enjoy every second of it. The next four months are going to flash before your eyes and soon you’re going to be asking yourself where the time went.
Sincerely,
A Nostalgic Second Term College Freshman
