To all the seniors that start their last year of high school in the next few weeks, this is for you. I hope some of my wisdom from one of the hardest years of my life serves you well.

As most of you have heard, this is supposedly the year to slack off. I'm not going to lie and tell you that you have to take this year super-duper seriously, but you don't completely just want to go off the radar from studying, doing your homework, and meeting with your teachers. Look at it this way: if you study for classes now, it'll help you prepare for college, since that's what you'll have to do in order for you to succeed. So, if you just slack off and only show up for lunch, you'll be in a pickle once you get into college.

As much as you think you hate high school (like me), you'll actually miss it. There are words that ring in my head from my school's former activities director, Mrs. Ogulnik, that she said at an assembly once at the beginning of my senior year.

"Take advantage of everything now. Because you won't think it now, but you'll actually really miss this place."

I rolled my eyes and couldn't possibly think her statement would never in a million years apply to me, but somewhere along the road a few months after I graduated, it did.

I realized that I took advantage of being on such a spectacular dance team, where I was doing a fun and new routine every week, while being among some of my best friends. I thought I couldn't wait till it was over, but then it was, and I felt somewhat empty. Some of it may have come from the fact that I got kicked off both my dance team and dance company at my high school for taking a picture with some marijuana paraphernalia that someone turned into one of the deans. I was heartbroken, since I knew this was revenge from a person who knew I absolutely loathed her (and rightfully so!). I was kicked off right before my last dance company show where I had a solo from one of my favorite choreographers in a dance, as well as a trio I helped choreograph with some of my friends. At the time, I thought it was a blessing in disguise. I thought it would make me a stronger person, and it did, but in the end, I was the one responsible. Holding up a blunt on a vine isn't worth missing three days of dancing in front of a large audience. Everyone knows high school seniors drink and smoke, so there's no need to advertise it, especially if it risks you getting kicked off your sports team. Take Polaroids, ones that you won't put on Instagram, and put them in an album that you can keep forever. I wish I would've done that.

Finally, here comes the real advice. If you totally zoned out during this article because you were sexting your boyfriend or binge-watching "House of Cards," listen: Lots of relationships,especially in high school, andespecially your senior year, are temporary. This can go for boys or friends. I spent so much time sulking over a boy who would be out of my life in just a few short months, instead of studying for a test I totally could've aced, or working out and getting a killer bod, or hanging out with friends that put effort into me. I caredso much of what he thought of me and put all my marbles into his hands, only for him to drop them. It's so, so important that you understand to take care of yourself and know your self-worth before you go to college. Unless you plan to marry this boy, don't sweat it. And there's like seven billion people in the universe, anyway, so are you sure you want to marry someone you met in high school? Think about it.

Spend this year working hard, putting time into activities you may never participate in again, and chill/party with people who lift you up! Laugh a lot, learn a lot, take up some new hobbies, and never forget to tell your favorite teachers how much they've influenced you. As the daughter of a teacher, it goes a long way. Don't stress too much, and enjoy yourself. You'll be just fine.