This is one of the best times of your life. I promise. This is such a unique time because this is the last summer that you really have with your friends. Yeah, you have next summer, but everyone will be preparing to leave for college. After that, everyone will leave at different times; some people may leave in June and July, and others will leave in September.
Take advantage of every opportunity that you can this summer. Stay out late with your friends. Spend the money you don't have on those concert tickets. Take those late night car rides with your friends and put your windows down and scream at the top of your lungs.
Don't be afraid to over-make plans for senior year. You will never have too much school spirit. You will never regret the days you sat in your car after school a bit longer than you should have.
This is your summer. Go on all the crazy adventures with your friends. Tour colleges with them. Help each other decide where to go. Do as much as you can whenever you can.
Don't totally slack off in school. Colleges will still receive your transcripts, even second semester. However, it's okay to skip a few days here and there. Trust me. It's really not going to hurt you that much. Some of my best memories from high school are of the times when I skipped a full or half day of school to go hang out with my friends or family.
Don't forget to spend some extra time with your family. This is your last full year with your friends, but it's also your last full year with your family. You don't really know how much time you spend with your family, for better or for worse, until you leave for college. You may not believe it now, but you'll miss those little moments with them.
I highly suggest taking all the AP courses you can during your senior year. It'll seem like a drag, but you will have SO much more free time in college. Also, at most colleges, you only need a 3 on the AP exam to get credit, which is very achievable.
If football is a thing at your school like it was at mine, go to every single football game. Or if your school's big sport is basketball, go to those. Go big or go home when you're dressing for the themes. Take SO MANY pictures. Also, go to all your friends' senior nights. Make the time. It'll be so worth it.
Be obnoxious at school dances. Take an hour's worth of pictures at each dance. Take all the goofy videos you can during the dance. Spend the extra money on your dream dress.
Your senior year is so special in so many ways. Make the most of it in any way that you can. For all of us that wish we could go back and do it, go to every game and dance while you can. Create one of those videos after your summer and senior year of all the great memories you made.
Relish every moment and every adventure. Because before you know it, you'll be graduating.