As exciting as senior year can be, with it comes a lot of stress being the leader of the building, setting a good example for the younger classmen, and of course the dreaded question, “Where are you going to college?” It is a lot. Scholarship deadlines, hundreds of essays, and the hardest part: growing up. Yes, you have been preparing for this for your entire life. But have you really? Or have you just gone through the motions of making good grades and joining all of the clubs? It is terrifying to be sent into the real world for the very first time.
Growing up means a lot more than getting good grades and having a decent social life. Leadership skills play an important role in adult life.
On the other hand, you are only a senior once, so it is important to enjoy these last couple of months. Yes, it is overwhelming, but it is important to be in the moment. You have worked hard to set yourself up in a position where you can live the life that you want to live. One day, you will be able to look back and be happy that you accomplished everything that you did. Right now, you are burnt out and tired of everything. So, you are starting to give up or slow down and not give it as much effort as you were a few years ago or even as much as you were at the beginning of the year.
Senioritis is kicking in, big time. With senior activities, graduation, and parties, leading organizations are the last thing on your mind. Getting through the last couple of events is your main priority. As long as you get it done, it doesn’t have to be done well. Right? Wrong. Everything you do has to be done with the same effort as it once was. Yes, it is almost over, but that is even more of a reason to get it done with the most effort possible. Leave a mark. You have already left a mark in your community, so now is not the time to give up.
Everyone around you already knows where they are going to college. They have roommates to live with and dorm decorations ordered. You, on the other hand, fill out a new college application every day because you want to see how many schools that you can get into. Your parents are getting frustrated because the application fees are adding up and they want you to make a decision soon. “We need to make a plan!” they say constantly, but that simple sentence just stresses you out even more.
You have always wanted to grow up, but now that it is here, not so much. It’s normal, everything that you are feeling is normal. “Enjoy it while you can.” But you just can’t wait for it to be over. Everyone around you seems to be enjoying it, but for some reason, you aren’t.
If being involved and driven was easy, everyone would be doing it. That is what sets you apart. “I am not doing enough. I could be working harder, but I don’t have the energy.” This may be running through your mind, fighting battles with it constantly. Procrastinating has never been an issue, but lately, it is because you will do anything to get your mind off of everything that you have to do. There is no reason to be constantly adding more to your plate, but you don’t feel like you are doing enough. At the same time, you are doing too much.
In this time of discomfort, remember why you started and finish strong. Get out of your head and realize how far you have come. You are a leader for a reason, soon, you will understand why you worked so hard.
Ava Morgan
Valley View High School, 12th Grade
Instagram - @avacmorgan