Senior year….

*sigh* We finally made it.

Through all the stress naps and midnight snacks and last-minute study sessions, we have prevailed. Some of us know where we’re going in life, most of us don’t. But this year is our chance to celebrate and rediscover the people we want to be. It’s expected of us to make this year count.

While it may be tempting to enjoy these short months with the people who have become our family, and to go lax with your educational responsibilities because “it won’t matter that much anyway”, the reality is that we have to put as much effort into this year as much as any other.

Here are some helpful tips for keeping a balanced, but fun, senior year.

1.  Be Realistic. You can’t stay out all night at a party and still be able to ace that calculus test the next day. You can’t do three hours worth of homework in one study hall. You can’t survive on four hours of sleep every night. You’re a senior in high school, not a super hero. Be realistic with the goals you set for yourself so that you can continue to balance your social life along with your education. And remember to keep everything in moderation.
2. Stick to your goals. It’s important to set goals for yourself, to give yourself something to strive for. It is also important to stick to those goals, whether they be going to college or starting a business or traveling the world. You’ve been working your whole life, suffering through school, to have a successful life and reach your aspirations. Don’t give up just because of one bad grade or because you don’t feel like putting in the effort.
3. Study. Plain and simple. Keep your grades up as much as they can because they do very much count still.
4. Leave a legacy. Go to dances. Support your sports teams. Go to clubs. Have school spirit. Not only will it look good for any college you apply to, but it gives you something to be excited about in a place that may not always be the most pleasant. Leaving a legacy also allows the future generations, whom look up to you, to know what it means to be a successful senior. Make your mark.
5. It is okay to be scared. As mature as you may feel, you aren’t prepared at all for the responsibilities of “real life”. You may not have any idea what you want to do with your life yet, and that’s okay. Life is difficult and people can be terrifying, so if you feel a little nervous jumping head-first into that, it’s understandable. Just take a deep breath and focus on surviving this last year. Everything will be alright.
6. Have fun. As long as you’re paying attention to your limits and being responsible, then it’s perfectly normal to let loose every once in a while. You’re going to want to go to those parties and see your friends and be a teenager. So go for it!

Don’t stress. You’re not a mess. You’ve got this!