Ah high school... Some claim it’s the best four years of your life, others wouldn’t go back for all the cash in the world. No matter what side you come down on, the reality is that each year holds excitement, stress and new experiences, both good and bad. Senior year, however, might just be the most intense of them all. As a very recent survivor, I’ve put together a list of the things I learned and some reminders for those of you getting ready to start this last lap.
First, the ugly.
- Senior year is harder than junior year
All through middle school and my time as an underclassman, I was continually told to watch out for junior year. It’ll be the hardest experience you have in high school, they said. Take APs but don’t be surprised if you get no sleep. And by the way if you don’t get straight As, you’re 100% screwed for college. Get ready. Ok, this is only partially true. While junior year is the time a lot of people end up taking their first really hard classes, you’re expected to take equally difficult ones senior year in order to keep your track record strong and challenging. Take a deep breath and get prepared for college apps on top of hard classes. The good news? This is really only first semester, so technically only half of senior year is harder.
2. Actually applying to college
You’ve talked about it with every neighbor, family friend and coworker all summer. But now, the time has finally come to pour your heart out and sign your soul away to a mountain of essays, endless grade-entering and form after form requiring you to bug your parents about the specifics of their childhoods and educational careers, just to finally hit submit on your own hopes and dreams. As long as you manage your time well and remember that you’re still in high school and the grades you currently get still matter, you’ll be well on your way to a happy few weeks in March, but be warned that this balancing act is probably the most overwhelming experience you’ll have in high school.
Next, the bad.
- SATs
And ACTs and subject tests and AP tests. Even though you can see the finish line, the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel, you still have some tedious testing to conquer before moving on. This might be a sigh of relief for some who didn’t do quite so well junior year, but for many of us it was just another Saturday sacrificed to the overlords at College Board.
2. Disappointments along the way
Between getting a measly 50% correct on part of my last final of high school to not getting into my number one school, there’s going to be times where you can’t believe that this is it. After all the work, studying, writing and learning, you’ll probably still have a few experiences that don’t go the way you hope. But that’s okay; the unexpected awesome experiences tend to outweigh the unsavory ones.
And finally, the good.
- The friendships
Whether you stick to the same group you’ve had since kindergarten or find a whole new squad, the intense college app process, hard classes, sentimental senior events and last chances to go to school plays and games bring you closer to your friends than ever before. Start a hundred clever group chats, go to parties and events you might have felt uncomfortable attending before, make the most of inside jokes and catch up with people you haven’t had classes with in a few years. As the year marches along, it’ll start to sink in that you’ll be leaving this place soon and you won’t want to leave without reconnecting and taking the time to solidify memories and experiences with different people. While these friendships may have started because you happened to grow up in the same place, these are the people that have gotten you through everything from awkward dances to bad grades. High school might be a fishbowl but as soon as you graduate you’ll appreciate the regular schedule and certainty with which you used to be able to see these people every day. Make the most of it.
2. The memories
After working so hard in the fall, it’s incredibly rewarding to start seeing the acceptances roll in. But before you focus solely on the future, take some time to appreciate everything you’ve been through. Rarely can every good memory be summed up in a hurried yearbook-signing circle, so remember to take note of any really fun experiences you have throughout the year. For some this might be going with one of your best friends to senior ball, for others it might be bonding over a not-so-secret barbeque with your sixth period class. Take pictures, write in a journal–anything to help refresh your memory when you look back on it later.
There’s no doubt about it–senior year is bittersweet, exciting, scary and boring all rolled into one huge blur. Good luck, and remember to breathe.
