Words by: Kiana Palacios
Your high school days will be one of those years in your life that you will remember forever. With another new school year upon us, we’re writing this for the seniors out there! Here are some ways on how you can make your senior year, your last year in high school, THE ONE to remember.
ALSO READ: I Finished School Without Any Honors or Awards, And That’s Okay
Take every single opportunity as your last.
Take this year to try things you never have before. It’s your last chance anyway. Try a new hobby or join a new club or organization. Sign up for activities or for different events. After all, you’ll never know when you’ll get the chance again. For most students, extra-curricular activities are usually one of the highlights of their high school lives, so take this as a chance to experience it yourself!
Cherish every last that comes your way.
…In whatever form that may be. Last orientation, last class, last lunch in school, last school fair. When you’ve been in a school for the last six years surrounded by more or less the same people, take this year as an opportunity to not take them for granted. Attend as many school events as you can, take advantage of the many programs and events planned by your school as you probably won’t see your school friends in a while after this.
Have some “me time”.
It’s hard to deny that senior year will come with a lot of stress. Despite this, it’s really important to remember to care for yourself and your health. Learn how to relax and know your limits. If you’re feeling tired or overworked, don’t hesitate to take a little break. If the output you produce working under stress and time constraint plus a tired mind is good enough to pass, let yourself be okay with it. Don’t forget to relax a bit and just have fun.
Surround yourself with the right people.
In line with looking after yourself, use this year to filter out the toxic people in your life. Take this year to find your potential and bring it to its fullest, surrounding yourself with people who will truly support you in that process. It’s important to be around people you are comfortable with, people you’re able to confide in if things get too much, and people who will be there with you every step of the way. Despite all the stress and all the work that needs to be done, being around your closest friends, and people you love— “the right people”— could greatly help you in enjoying your last year in high school.
Learn to manage your time wisely.
A lot of students say that they’re able to get by high school cramming and procrastinating school work. While this could work for some people, if you’re the type of person who wants to be as active in the school circuit as possible and at the same time manage consistent grades to impress colleges, then this is a crucial tip for you. Find your productivity method—may it be through writing down schedules or tracking down your process explicitly. Being able to finish all your work as early as possible because of proper time management is so much better than a “fun now, work later” concept. Turn off your phone and all distractions, get your work done and spend all the remaining time later once you’re done to catch up with friends or do things that entertain you. It’s so much better than having to stress yourself in the peak hours in the morning, plus the work quality might even improve!
Use the year to form stronger and lasting relationships.
When you’re in high school, you usually see the same people every day for 10 months every school year. When you reach college, and even when you start working, this all changes. You never know when you’ll see these people again, so use this time to get closer to people. They say high school friends last forever, so use this year to strengthen your relationship with your classmates, and with your close friends. This way, after the year’s over, no matter where life will bring you, you’ll know you’ll always have these people behind your back.
ALSO READ: High School Friends Vs. College Friends: What’s the Difference?
Don’t pressure yourself!
It’s inevitable to put pressure upon yourself to get into a good school and into a good course, whatever and wherever that may be. But in the process, don’t make the pressure reach a point that you know you can’t handle it anymore, to the point where it’s affecting your daily routine, where it’s affecting your work. This type of pressure only makes you perform even more poorly. Enjoy every single part of your last year, but still keep in mind the need to do better for the future, but never make it reach the point that it consumes you fully.
With these in mind, we hope your senior year will definitely be the best one to cap off your high school experience.
Have any more tips in mind or have a senior year story to share? Let us know in the comments down below!
