Congrats, you made it! I am sure you are more than ready for the stresses of this year to be done. If your anything like I was, you are currently drowning in sea of common applications and essays. That is not counting the work for actual classes, AP this and SUPA that. Stress is practically your middle name. I know how you feel, trust me. Even though it may seem like the answer, don’t wish away your senior year or worse, spend more time with your books than your friends. Senior year, besides the triumph of actually getting into college, is about celebrating the last twelve years with people you may never see again. It’s about relishing the times that you have together and understanding that you will never be as blissfully young as you are right now.

Here’s my advice for you to make the most of your senior year because trust me, it goes by faster than you think. Before you know it, you will walk down a stage in a polyester gown praying you don’t trip and fall. High school, though it may seem like the most trivial time of your life, is where some of your best memories can be made. While I was in high school, I couldn’t wait for it to end. I was constantly thinking about what my future meant and how I could achieve my dreams. For the next few months, even though this may seem like the complete opposite advice than your used to hearing, try to not think about the future. The future will come, it doesn’t make sense to waste time stressing over it.

But that also doesn’t mean to take on an early case of “senioritis” and call it quits for the year. You have to find a happy medium so you’re not dying of stress, but your also not slacking off. Even though they may seem trivial, participate in everything your school has to offer and go as full out with school spirit as possible.

The one thing I regret from my senior year, is not taking more pictures. Sure I had some, but looking back I wish I had taken more. So that way, during my first year away at college, I would be able to relive my experience whenever I wanted to. Your life is changing at such a quick rate, this time next year I am sure your will have your own list of advice to give to the next group of seniors. It’s weird knowing that the people you grew up with, whom you spent 5 days a week and 6 hours a day with, that your time together will be ending soon.

It may excite some of you; the possibility to foster new relationships in a brand new setting. For others, it may seem like the impossible, having to leave friends that are practically family in hopes of finding replicas to them in whatever college you end up. Whichever way you are feeling, enjoy the time that you have and know that you will always have your friends from high school, who will soon become just that “friends from high school." They will always remain in your heart, no matter where you go.

These last few months, will be some of the most stressful, time-consuming , fun times you will have as a high school student. Before you know it, it will be time to find a prom dress and after that graduation. Time is flying, and you are right on the bridge of a transition. Remember: You only get one senior year, live it to the fullest!

Congrats class of 2017, best of luck!