Let me start by saying congratulations. You made it. Well you didn't actually make it, but you made it to the point of making it and I'm sure it feels an awful lot like you've made it. This is an exciting time in your life, as it should be. You've worked hard to get to this point and you deserve to enjoy it. I can tell by all of the tweets, statuses and posted pictures that you all are excited to be "official seniors" now. But before you get ahead of yourselves, sit down, take a deep breath and prepare for what lies ahead.
Look around you. On your first day of senior year, something weird happens. You and your classmates are the top tier now. You are the upperclassmen. The previous class that was always there for you to idolize and gossip about, is gone. You are all you have. A special bond is formed among your class. People that you may have never noticed will start to stand out to you now. That girl that you've had math class with every year since middle school but never said more than ten words to could become one of your best friends. The guy that you always assumed was snobby because he is top of your class, could become your study buddy. Contrary to popular belief, senior year is not too late to put yourself out there. Talk to people. Go to parties. Join as many clubs as possible. It sounds cliché but clubs, interest groups and extracurriculars truly are a great way to find out about yourself and to find other people with the same interests as you who you may have never met otherwise. Go to every sporting event, lame dance, fundraiser or concert. I promise this will be where you create the memories that will last a lifetime. Embrace your school, and spread the school spirit to those around you.
Focus. This year will be more stressful than you can imagine, but it doesn't have to be challenging. Senior year is when you learn the truth about responsibility and accountability. Stay on top of your assignments and due dates. Stay on top of your teachers about staying on top of your assignments and due dates. You'll need to balance multiple college applications along with your high school coursework. There is a lot of work to be done, but no reason that you won't realistically be able to do it. Senioritis is real. Accept it, acknowledge it, work around it. You will get overwhelmed, it happens to every single senior at some point in the year. The only thing to do is to push through it. When that seems impossible think about everyone in your life or community that has graduated high school. If all of those people can do it, so can you.
Slow down. Don't be in such a hurry to walk across that stage and get your diploma. Bask in the familiarity of your surroundings. Appreciate the fact that you're surrounded by the people who have been around to watch you grow. Regardless of what you have planned after high school, you will never be in this environment, with these people experiencing these things again. Appreciate it. Appreciate knowing the shortcuts to all of your classes, which lunch line has the best fries, which teachers don't recognize SparkNotes when you get a little "extra help" and what classes on what hallways have zero cell service.. Appreciate being in the same building as your best friends all day long. Enjoy every single moment. Enjoy every french-fry Friday, every football game, every Jeopardy review, every spirit week. Starting on the first day of your senior year, everything you do is numbered. And all of those numbers will run out and you will find yourself walking the main hall for the last time and thinking of all the times you took that exact same walk, never stopping to think that one of them would be the last. (Think High School Musical 3: Senior Year level feels. Tenfold.)
Senior year is already set up to be the best year of your lives so far, so just sit back, relax and enjoy the ride. Congratulations, Class of 2017. You made it.
Best Wishes,
Class of 2016 (and beyond)
