Senior year is almost over! This is the culmination of 13 years of grade school. Time really flies, huh? This also may be the last time you see some of the people you practically grew up with. As you embark on the final leg of your high school journey, it’s important to keep a few things in mind. You want to live your senior year to its fullest and make memories that will last. Here are five things to do in your last semester to ensure you finish the year strong and don’t find yourself suffering from a case of mid-year blues!
1. Don’t forget to study
Stay motivated with your schoolwork throughout the second semester, even if you’ve already been accepted to college. Believe it or not, colleges still care about your grades even after you’ve received an acceptance letter.
“A college’s acceptance is conditional on completing the senior year at the same level of performance as when the student was admitted,” says Christine VanDeVelde, co-author of College Admission: From Application to Acceptance, Step by Step. “A significant change in the academic record, such as a notably lower grade in one or more classes, might make a college reconsider.”
A drop in your GPA could lead to your acceptance getting revoked. You worked so hard to get to this point, so don’t slack off now!
2. Take a fun elective or join a new club
Whether it’s joining the debate team or auditioning for the spring play, try something new, or perhaps something that parallels the college major you’re thinking of declaring. You may even be able to find classes offered after school hours, like a cooking or scrapbooking class.
“A great method for seniors beating the blues is doing new things,” says Sophie van Bastelaer, a junior at McGill University. “It's hard to be down about high school ending when you’re so busy having fun trying new things.”
It's your final chance to get involved in high school, so why not make the most of your last semester? Maybe you’ll discover you’re actually a great dancer/ping-pong player/you name it!
3. Keep applying for scholarships
True story: college is expensive. With the cost of tuition, dorm rooms, meal plans, books and more, you’ll need all the money you can get. When it comes to financial aid, scholarships and grants are the jackpot, because unlike student loans, you don’t have to pay them back. And the good news is they’re everywhere! Sometimes you just have to look for them.
If you didn’t find time to apply for scholarships early in the fall, now is the time to do it! There are many out there with spring deadlines, so get researching and applying. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even win a scholarship for wearing a duct tape ensemble to prom! For more scholarships, check out websites like Fastweb andCappex.
4. Go to the prom!
Prom is the biggest event of the school year. Sure, you may attend a formal or a semiformal in college, but there will never be anything like prom again.
“Senior prom was probably the most fun I ever had because it was all about the seniors and all about having a bunch of fun,” says Jocelyn Beaudion, a junior at Northwestern State University.
Belting out tunes with your friends in the car on the way to prom, taking some of the best pictures ever, eating tasty finger food and dancing until your feet are screaming to get out of those heels are all fun moments you’ll have at the prom that you’ll look back on fondly. Be there to witness everything and enjoy the moments you have left with your high school classmates.
5. Live in the moment
Some pre-collegiettes may find it hard to accept that high school is ending, so they think about everything else in the world but senior year. Don't focus too hard on the future. With college on the horizon, it’s easy to become far-sighted during your final months, but live in the moment. You’ll only be a high school senior once. That’s why you should be careful to not miss the amazing moments sitting right in front of you!
Finally you’ve reached the top of the totem pole, you no longer get lost trying to find your classes and you’ve successfully mastered the combination on your locker. Your senior year can be one of the most rewarding and enjoyable years you’ve had yet. Enjoy the moments it brings and remember that your journey has only begun!