For the seniors who are preparing to end the last year of high school and move onto the rest of their lives, here's some last minute advice that I wish someone had shared with me:
1. Don't stress over not getting into your top school.
Sometimes things don't happen the way we want them to and sometimes that's a good thing. Just because you did not get into your dream school doesn't mean that you're a failure, it just means that that school wasn't meant for you.
2. Enjoy having your own bathroom/normal shower.
The next year of your life will be filled with shower shoes, horrible water pressure, and toilet stalls. Enjoy the last few months of not sharing a bathroom with an entire floor.
3. Hug your parents more.
I know you're very excited to go off to college and live independently but there will be plenty of nights where you just wanna hug your parents after a stressful day of classes, so get a few extra in now.
4. Stop hiding in your room.
You will have plenty of time to watch every show on Netflix next year, but for now hit pause and go spend some time with your dog or siblings, you will miss them like crazy next year.
5. Spend more time with your friends.
Yes, you will make plenty more in college, but nothing will compare to living exactly ten minutes from your BFFs and being able to drive for coffee whenever.
6. Stop wishing the year away.
Maybe stop checking your countdown every day to see how many more days till graduation, just do your best to appreciate the time you have left in high school.
7. Stay involved in school.
Again, stop wishing the year away!!! Senior year is full of so many last. Trust me, you are not too cool to take part in all the dorky little last because next year you will be sitting in your dorm room watching snap chat stories of the new seniors and wishing you could go back and take part in just one more of those last.
8. Don't complain about your homework.
Yes, it's almost time for you to start sliding (if you haven't already), but don't start just yet. Your three-page paper is not that big of a deal, especially compared with the weekly five-page paper you will be writing next year.
9. Take a ton of pictures.
When you're feeling a bit extra homesick having pictures to look back at will help to cheer you up.
10. Lower your expectations for this year.
A lot of people will tell you that "senior year is the best year of your life," but they're wrong. Yes, the year can be fun but life goes on after high school so don't put such high expectations into senior year, just enjoy it and make the most out of everything – the good and the bad.
11. Enjoy it!
This year will go by in the blink of an eye and then you will be off at college having to be all "adulty," so enjoy the little things while you still can.
