Dear Class of 2017,

This is it. Three years of high school have gone by faster than you expected, and this is officially your last year of mandatory schooling. Of course, quite a few of you plan to attend college, but you decided this yourself.

Speaking of college, much of your first semester will be occupied by... you guessed it, college applications! Find what you want in a school and look into schools that match with your interests. Once you’ve compiled a list, be sure to check each college’s requirements for your major (especially considering standardized tests and letters of recommendation) and ensure you have all the standardized tests necessary (SAT or ACT and two SAT subject tests usually do the job). Make sure your recommenders are teachers (and other mentors in extracurriculars) you know well and who can testify to your growth as a person. Devote time to essays throughout the semester, it’s okay if you don’t have ideas at first.

Although getting ahead on college apps and getting adjusted to your current class schedule seems difficult, doing a little work every day– whether it’s writing, revising, or sharing– will be very effective. After all, it’s better than working in December, because you have finals to study for (and thus a GPA to watch out for), plus applications to submit.

Regarding the process itself, you do you. That’s as hard as it is trite. But you learn a lot about yourself from analyzing what you’ve done and what you’d like to be doing, and that can come from writing. Don’t worry about being what the admissions officers want. I tried to portray myself as “well rounded” in numerous applications, talking about extracurricular after extracurricular, but I ended up waitlisted or rejected. When I wrote about what I wanted and related the experiences I was truly passionate about, I was accepted. If you don’t know exactly what major you want, that’s fine! As long as you have an idea of what you like to do, regardless of how monotonous it gets, go from there.

Even when it comes to acceptances, own your accomplishment (and celebrate, of course!). Don’t choose a college because it’s what others say, no matter how close they are. They can influence you, but ultimately, it’s your life. You’ll be happy no matter where you go. It may take some time to sink in, but plenty of college students can attest to that.

Well, this college talk has been quite a bit, hasn’t it? We still haven’t reached the most important part: make time to breathe. Actually, this applies to senior year in general. It’s crucial to find something that you do for fun. Preferably that gets you away from a computer. It doesn’t have to be something you’re good at, just enough to relieve your stress.

This leads me to another piece of advice: try new things. Whether it's starting that TV show you wanted to watch, discovering the intricacies of Reddit, or joining a new club, go for it! It’ll be a wonderful way to not only create and deepen friendships, this may very well be your only opportunity to do so in such a relaxed environment (especially second semester). These “new things” don’t have to be as big as joining a club, getting a job, or picking up a hobby. It can be as simple as dressing up for a spirit day, attending sports games, or participating at rallies. After all, it’ll be your final chance to experience these activities and events, so make all your “lasts”– game, tournament, date, even final exam– special.

Part of this process involves reaching out to new people and ensuring that you make time for those who matter. Talk to your teachers even if it’s about something non-academic, help out underclassmen, talk to recent high school graduates about college. Ask someone to prom, go out for coffee, take day trips to local attractions, make the most out of time with your family. Chances are, you’ll meet some interesting people and discover new things about those who are close to you. Moreover, make time to tell everyone how much you appreciate them, regardless if it’s your best friend or the person you sit next to in English class.

Finally, be sure to appreciate the little things in life. Considering the gravity of your senior year decisions, how is this possible? However, if you spend every moment recklessly pursuing the bigger goals, you won’t be able to enjoy the little things in life. Every “hello” and smile from classmates and teachers does mean something. In fact, if you’re not in the best situation, small kind gestures like these can make your day.

Although high school may seem extremely monotonous, there are still positive aspects of the experience. Instead of impatiently anticipating the end, savor every moment. College will come before you know it!

Sincerely,

A high school graduate