Seniors,

I know you’re going to read this and think it is just like every other Odyssey article that you have read about graduating. This time is it different because you know me. I am not writing this to be cliche or to make you nostalgic but I think that I learned a few things about my last year of high school and wanted to share them because I find no use in keeping this to myself.

About Applications / College

This time last year was one of the most stressful times of my life. The applying was fine but the waiting was absolutely the worst. I will not lie to you, the questions from everyone will not stop just because applications are sent in and the stress probably will not go away until you place your deposit and the entire world knows where you are going to school. My Instagram bio from first-semester senior year “undecided university class of 2021.” You may go into this process thinking you know where you will end up… but you may not. Hearing people get into schools (that I did not even apply to) was so stressful because all I wanted to do was get into college. The waiting led to thinking. Visiting other schools led to confusion. I just want to let you know that no matter how many pros and cons lists you make while you still haven’t heard back from schools will not make the decision any easier. Everyone says this so I know it is redundant but you know when you know, and everything happens for a reason! December of last year, I did not even include UMD in my pro-con lists that I made. Now I know that I am where I’m meant to be.

Last Semester

I know all about studying with all you have and attending all of school. I’m going to keep this brief, STUDY FOR YOUR AP EXAMS!!!!!!!!! You will thank me later. Also, spend as much time with your friends as possible. Get signed out early to go to lunch, decorate each other's rooms, go to the beach, take road trips. Soon enough, you’ll be spread out across the country and you’ll be counting down until Thanksgiving.

Prom

If I’m being honest, prom is what you make it. The months leading up to prom were a total disaster and there was constant fighting amongst my friends about prom tables and over the fact that some people said they were not going to come if they didn’t have a date. Here’s my advice, WHO CARES. Seriously. Ask the boy to prom. Or go without a date. Everyone dreams of getting the promposal, I sure did. I remember distinctly sitting in the student center during lunch freshman year, discussing my dream promposal. Life doesn’t always work like that, and sometimes you need to ask for what you want. I had friends who did not have dates, I had friends who went with dates they weren’t friends with (and had a significantly worse time than the ones with no dates) and then there was me who asked the boy to prom. Who cares if you can’t dance; this is one last night with your whole grade, get on the dance floor. And make sure you stay for the slow dance. In the end, it all works out. I promise. I got to sit with all of my friends at prom and danced the night away with the person I wanted to be there with. (Thank you… you know who you are). Don’t make prom something it’s not because after it’s over, all you have are memories. And I wouldn’t change any part of my experience for anything.

So, seniors - take it from me. Yes, I hated high school as much as the next girl but when you're a college freshman, you're going to want to have this amazing year to look back on. Don't stop working but don't stress too much. Senior year of high school only happens once and it's worth making the best of it.