It is that time of year again. The time to say your goodbyes, your ”have a great summer”s, and the time to go on to the next grade level. However, my next level will be different from other students. I’m a senior and this weekend I’ll be graduating to the next chapter of my life.
I had a great senior year, and while I don’t want to live in regret, there is some advice I would give to future seniors making their way through their last high school year.
With the help of some friends, here are the top nine things I would recommend for future seniors to do in their last year.
- Get applications done early
I know juniors hear all the time of the importance of getting started early with applications. I know it may seem so far away and that you’ll have plenty of time, but I’m just going to say: Get. It. Done. You don’t realize this, but once you begin senior year, it gets overwhelming. Joining clubs, paying dues, football games, and the beginning of rigorous coursework gets to you. It’s important to start in the summer. Start writing your application essays or start creating your resume to send out to colleges.
- Take your TSI’s
I want to clarify something. At Los Fresnos taking your TSI’s are extremely important, and it is a requirement to do before you graduate. If you don’t take them, you will be put in Remedials at college. If you fail your TSI’s, take them again and again until you pass. They have tutoring and there are resources here to help you pass. Make sure to take them before it’s too late.
- Make a resume
Depending on what college you’re applying to, they may require a resume. However, if they don’t require it, I recommend for you to complete a resume regardless, because at the end of the year, there will be scholarships and applications for those scholarships that will require you to submit one. Try to build up your resume as much as possible during the summer, and keep adding right before you submit it to an application for college or scholarship. There are great templates on Canva, a design app or on Google. Additionally, if you have any questions regarding creating one, you can also message me on Instagram: _natalygarciaa
- Go to school events
Some of you all might think that going to school events is boring, takes up too much of your time, or is not necessary. However, you should go to school events because you create memories you won’t ever get anywhere else. Even if you’re not interested in the sport, go to games, go to volunteer events, go to everything you can. Go with friends and even if you have no clue what’s going on, go anyway.
- Don’t be scared to go to College Center
One of the biggest things I am going to tell seniors entering high school is to go to the College Center. Ask questions, inquire about scholarships, go if you need help for college. They can help you with anything they need and if not, they’ll point you in the right direction.
- Have fun, but don’t make dumb decisions
Senior year is a time to enjoy the last moments you have in high school, with your friends and family. Don’t think of it as an excuse to slack off or to start messing around.
Your last year of high school is to prepare yourself for the real world and you don’t want to jeopardize it by not acting as you should. Don’t be skipping classes, missing school or misbehaving. Don’t do anything to compromise your chances of having a great senior year appropriately.
- Spend time with your family
It’s almost time to say goodbye to your friends, your classmates, and your teachers. But that’s not all. Your family is something else that you should take time to focus on this senior year. Even if you were staying here after high school, I promise you the dynamics of your family will change with time reaching adulthood. It’s necessary to spend time with them as much as possible because we don’t know what will happen in the future. Things change, and people change, so it’s important to create memories with the people you love.
- Rejection is redirection
In your senior year, there will be many paths that change. You will think you want one thing at the beginning of the school year, but in reality, at the end, you may not get that aspiration you had before. Things, especially in your senior year will change. Doors will close and new ones will open, ones that you wouldn’t have ever expected to come to you. It’s important to keep a positive mindset when going into your senior and realizing that everything happens for a reason. That could be the best, and ultimately a change at least to your success. You must embrace the change, the rejection, in order to redirect your path of greatness.
- Take pictures
Take pictures of everything that happened senior year. Every game, every event, and even everyday in class. Take pictures, make Tiktoks, and whether you post them or not, do them anyway as something to look back on in the future. And do not, absolutely do not feel embarrassed for the stuff you post. People are harsh and judgmental, but what you post makes you happy, post it. Do not live in regret nor what you should have done. Live every moment of your senior year like it’s your last, but don’t take advantage of the possibilities given to you. Live, but don’t live making the lives of others inferior to yours. Lift others up , as well as yourself.
To finish off, enjoy every moment of senior year and don’t look back on your mistakes. Go forward and go be your best self. Wishing you the best, Nataly Garcia, Class of 2024.
