So you're a senior in high school. You may be nervous about what is coming after graduation, and you have every right to be. The world can be very scary, especially when you are thinking of what your place could be in it. Don't let your stress become your identity. In fact, you have no need to fear. In order to enjoy your final year of high school, here is a list of tips that every high school senior should follow to make the most of their twelveth grade year:

1. If You Are Unsure Of Your Post-High-School Plans, Do Not Worry

First and foremost, do not worry if you're unsure of your future. If you don't know what you want to do with the rest of your life, you're not alone. If fact, you might be surprised by how many college students go to college undeclared. Many colleges offer undeclared majors the option to take their gen-eds until they know what they want to declare their major as, or until a specific point in their college career (usually the second semester of sophomore year).

2. Talk To Your Guidance Counselor

Yes, this may sound cliché, but your guidance counselor is honestly here to help you. You may or may not have a senior advisement meeting with your guidance counselor at school. If you do, take the opportunity to ask him/her questions about what they think is the best step for you after graduation, listen to what they have to tell you, and read all of the materials that they give you about the road ahead. If your counselors do not offer a mandatory meeting like this, then take the initiative and schedule one! Your guidance counselor is there for you to talk to about your concerns and to answer the questions you may have about your future. You don't necessarily need to discuss your future, either; you can always go to your counselor about any issues that you need advice on or just need to talk about.

3. Live In The Moment

YOLO, am I right? Living in the moment may mean cutting your study time short to go on a date or go to the game. I know this isn't the kind of advice you were expecting after the first three bullets, but living in the moment is important as a senior. When you do spontaneous things, it makes your senior year even more memorable. I'm not saying go out and party and get drunk and do stupid things. I'm saying don't coop yourself up in your room or the library and feel obligated to not have fun. Go bowling with a group of friends, take a trip to the local park, or drive to an open field and watch the sun set. Living in the moment should not deter you from being a good student, but it can allow you to take a break from your books every now and then.

4. Do Not Let Senioritis Take Over You

Symptoms of senioritis include overwhelming laziness, not caring about anything that involves school, and the sudden urge to wear sweatpants every day. Do not let senioritis get in the way of all the important things you should do this year!

5. Spend Time With All Of Your Friends

So you may or may not end up going to the same college or taking the same life path as your friends from high school. This is the perfect reason why you NEED to take advantage of the time you have during your senior year and spend time with everyone that you're friends with. You don't need to be with a friend 24/7, but you should really try to keep your friends close throughout the year so your friendship can grow to be even stronger and everlasting.

6. Take College Tours

THIS CANNOT BE STRESSED ENOUGH!! As someone who did not take advantage of their excused days for college visits during the school year, I can truly say that college tour days are YOUR FRIEND. Most schools give you days during the school year that can be used to visit college campuses. Do your research on colleges that might be worth a visit for you based on financial information, location, major/minor offerings, travel programs, average class sizes, and any other criteria that you believe is important. When you find one (or a few) that seem as though they will suit you nicely, schedule a visit. Also, VISIT BEFORE YOU APPLY. Do not waste your application fees on colleges that you haven't visited. I made this mistake and was let down by multiple campuses that I visited after I was accepted.

7. Get To Know An Underclassman

This may be a bit of a confusing concept for some people. However, getting to know an underclassman during your senior year will be extremely helpful when you undergo the different world that is life after high school. Believe it or not, you may find yourself missing high school after graduation, especially if you went to a small school where news traveled quickly. Underclassmen can keep you aware of the latest happenings and gossip at your alma mater such as which teachers are still there, who's dating who, what classes are being offered, etc. This can be a good resource to you when you're homesick and need someone to chat with. Besides, your friends will have already graduated, so what will they know?! Plus, getting to know an underclassman during your senior year will allow you to serve as a mentor to them as they work their way through high school.

8. Be Social

If it's a Friday night in September or October, there is a 99% chance that there is a football game being played. Here's my advice to you: go to the game. Even if you've never watched a sport in your life, grab some friends, pay the five dollar student ticket price, and go be social. Go to your senior homecoming and/or prom. Join a club at school, and commit to it. Clubs are great for everyone and allow for a mix of students to sign up. Go on your class trip, regardless of where it's to. Join your student section during football games. There is a very likely chance that you'll regret not going to or participating in these events later on down the road.

9. Try Something New

The best time in your life to try something new is when? Trick question. 'Always' is the answer. However, senior year can offer a long list of new, fun things for you to try/do. It doesn't have to be anything extravagant. Some things to do can include: getting a job, learning an instrument, taking a different class, being the mascot, learning to sew, eating a new food, learning a new language, or playing a sport. Senior year is a great time to step out of your comfort zone and truly learn more about yourself as an individual.

10. Study

I'd be lying if I said that studying isn't important at this point in your life. However, your senior year offers crucial information that you will probably learn more about in college. Studying isn't just limited to school tests; it can be applied to watching rival sports teams' tapes prepare for an upcoming game, reviewing your driver's ed manual, taking notes on a chapter from your textbook, reading your work manual, or making a Quizlet of flashcards for an upcoming vocab test. Figuring out how you study best is also a good thing to learn during your senior year. That way, when college rolls around and you have to manage your own study time, you'll know what study habits you have, and if you're an auditory, kinesthetic, or verbal learner.

11. Spend Extra Time With Your Family

Lastly, and as cliché as this probably sounds, spending time with your family is the most important thing on this list. Your family is the thing that has backed you from preschool to now, and now it's time for you to repay them with lots of love. Regardless of who will be feeling the effects of empty nest syndrome when you graduate, be sure to spend extra time with them. Take your grandparents out for breakfast, get a pedicure with your aunt, take a road trip with your dad, watch TV with your siblings, or help your mom cook dinner. You never know who will be there to see you graduate from college or boot camp, but try to keep all potential candidates extremely close.

Regardless of what you take from this list, just remember to make your senior year count. Graduation comes way faster than you think and before you know it, you're going to be receiving your long-anticipated diploma in a cap and gown, surrounded by ALL of your classmates for the last time. It's bittersweet and there are no do-overs. Take a ton of selfies, enjoy all of the little things, and be yourself. After all, your senior year is what you make of it.