Dear Seniors,
Congratulations on making your way to the top of the totem pole. Enjoy it now, because you will soon find your way back on the bottom where you started. As I’m about to leave for college, I look back on my senior year not only with fond, memories and happiness, but also with a few regrets. Everyone has their own thoughts on how to make the best of your last year in the school system the best, but I’d like to provide my own input based on my experience.
1. Go to every sporting event you can.
There is nothing like high school sporting events. Whether it be football, soccer, basketball, or baseball, go to every game you can to cheer on your friends. Even if it’s ungodly hot out or bitterly cold, get out to that stadium and stand with your peers, or else you’ll probably regret it.
2. Fully jump into all of your activities
Any extracurricular activity you’re involved in is eventually going to come to an end. Put 100% into your athletics, your art, your music, or whatever it is you’re involved in.
3. Try something new
Just because your time in high school is ending, doesn't mean you shouldn't get involved. If you're already involved in a lot, try an activity you never saw yourself doing. Talk to people you never have in your three years together. Don't get stuck in a monotonous routine of merely dragging yourself to school day in and day out.
4. Skip school, but still come sometimes
Of course senior year comes with more relaxed academics; sometimes so much so that it feels like you’d have a more productive day staying at home. Those days off are great, but days when I came to school and spent the entire day playing games of jumbo Jenga were some of my favorite days.
5. Say what you feel
Before you know it, you’ll see nearly no one from your school ever again. It’s a great thought and it really is a good feeling, but when you rarely see people you’ve grown to love, it kind of sucks. Tell your friends how much they mean to you, tell your teachers how much they’ve inspired you. It is often that we regret the things we didn’t say rather than the things we did.
6. Take pictures
Live in the moment, but take tons of pictures too at all of your school functions; especially those at the end of the year. It’s those pictures that you’ll look back on and remember some of the great memories you made and some of the great people you knew in high school.
7. Don’t wish it away
I tried not to rush graduation and it still came unbelievably fast. At graduation itself, take in every moment and understand the enormity of the event. Look around at all of your classmates as it is the last time you’ll all be together, look up in the stands and wave to all of your family and friends, and reflect on the fact that by the end of the ceremony, you’ll pretty much be a full blown adult.
Freedom and independence will be great, but it can wait. Take time to appreciate the comfort and ease of high school and enjoy your last days of dependence. Do I want to go back? No, but I still miss it already.
Love,
a lowly (college) freshman
