Senior year is full of new emotions and responsibilities, and it can be hard to balance everything. With college application deadlines approaching quickly, football games to attend, AP classes to keep up with, and finding time to spend with friends and family, it's easy to be overwhelmed. To save you from those late nights stressing over that scholarship application you should have started a month ago, here are 10 things you should do during your short time as a senior in high school.
1. Apply early.
If you decide to continue your education, don't wait until the last minute to submit those applications! At some schools, submitting during the early application time period could put you in consideration for scholarships, and some colleges even have a higher acceptance rate for early applicants! Plus, you can get your applications done with and out of the way earlier, so you can have more time for the fun stuff!
2. Ask people to edit your college essays.
Having multiple people look through your essays will only help! Don't take offense to people's advice; you want these essays to reflect who you are in the most positive ways. If you don't have them edited, you could be missing out on some great insight that could make your essay better.
3. Go to the football games.
Even if your team loses every game or you don't have a big student section, absorb every high school moment you can. Being around your classmates in your school colors, listening to the band play your fight song over and over again, and cheering on the team will soon be a nostalgic memory.
4. Dedicate yourself to the clubs you're in.
No matter what club you decided to join throughout high school, senior year is the time to make your impact; whether that's taking on a leadership position, attending more events, or going outside of your comfort zone to be more involved! I loved being able to go to my club meetings and take time to give back to my high school with all the friends I had been working with for the past four years.
5. Do your homework.
Senioritis is a REAL thing, and it hits people HARD. It's easy to get caught up in those football games and club meetings, but school should be your number one priority. Colleges will still check up on your grades at the end of the semester to make sure you aren't slacking off too much. Senior year is a lot of fun, but there's no avoiding that calculus homework or reading Shakespeare for English class.
6. Have senioritis.
I know, I Mom'ed you and told you to do your homework. There's a time and a place for everything, so use senioritis to your advantage. You'll be a freshman again in a few short months. When the time is right, and trust me you'll know, it's okay to be a stereotypical senior every once in a while. I mean, who actually had the time to read every single book for AP English? (Shout out to Sparknotes.)
7. Eat dinner with your family.
It's hard to want to make time with your family when you're aware that you only have a short amount of time with your friends before you all go off to college. But, you will miss your family when you're in college. However you define your "family," eat dinner with them and enjoy the simplicity of it.
8. Apply for scholarships.
There are scholarships for anything and everything out there! If you're lucky enough, some colleges may invite you to apply for scholarships directly through the university. I know, there may be more essays and applications and possibly some interviews, but it all will help you to become a stronger student and adult.
9. Go out with your friends.
Be silly, drive around late at night listening to Drake, eat Cookout one too many times, go out for coffee, explore downtown, study for AP exams together, and enjoy each other's company. Before long, you all may be going to different schools or different places. Have fun with the people you've spend the past four years with and absorb every moment of it. These are the things you will remember about your senior year.
10. Thank your teachers.
If you had a teacher that impacted your high school experience in a positive way, let them know. My creative writing teacher helped me to become more confident in my writing, and I bought him a Christmas present and hand-wrote a thank-you card at the end of the year. It's always special to let people know the impact they had on your life, no matter how big or small. They have seen you grow and change throughout your time in high school and would more than appreciate a simple thank-you on the last day of school.
Senior year will be over before you can even comprehend it. High school may not be the best four years of your life, but you have the power to make it as memorable as possible during your last year. It can be stressful and overwhelming at times, but hopefully those 10 things can be a reminder to focus on the simple things. You will survive, and you will be walking across that stage with your diploma sooner than you think. Good luck, and have fun!!
