A few weeks ago it hit me that second semester is nearly upon
us. For myself and the rest of the senior class, second semester
means our last semester of high school. I get butterflies just
thinking about. I am just now getting used to saying that I am a
senior. There are less than 100 days left of high school for
us.
A few weeks ago it hit me that second semester is nearly upon us. For myself and the rest of the senior class, second semester means our last semester of high school. I get butterflies just thinking about. I am just now getting used to saying that I am a senior. There are less than 100 days left of high school for us.
During my freshman year, being a senior seemed so far away, but now it seems like just yesterday that I started high school.
I went into high school thinking that everything would be wonderful and cheery. Well, there is nothing cheery about taking finals! I guess I never factored in all the hard work that comes along with high school.
Just before freshman year, I remember wondering what I would be doing my senior year. What kind of person would I be? Would I have fun friends? Would my classes be hard?
Now that it has hit me that I will be in college next year, I find myself asking myself some of the same questions. With all the stories my family has told me about their weird professors, I can’t help wonder what to expect other than a lot of hard work.
In about a two months, seniors start to hear back from the UC’s they applied to. Many of my friends are nervous that they won’t make it into their ideal UC. It’s not fun to watch the kind of hysteria state they go into when they think about possibly not being accepted into their first choice UC.
Along with SAT scores, senior first semester grades are sent to UCs and may determine the fate of many seniors. This year more than any other year, seniors strive to get A’s like their life depends on it. Acing these finals is essential.
Many seniors are just tired of high school. I have to agree that I can’t wait to move on from high school. It really bothers me that some teenagers are amused by fights and use vulgar language every other word. Also, one of the hardest things to deal with in high school is being in a class with people that don’t even want to be in school in the first place, when you are trying to learn and take the class seriously.
But in all honesty, those who have gone on independent studies for their senior year, don’t know what they are missing. There are many perks that come along with being a senior. You have had time to build some kind of alliance and relationship with teachers and they take what you say seriously most of the time. Sophomores and juniors ask for advice from you about classes and teachers. It makes seniors feel very superior.
Looking back at the last three years, there are many things that we as seniors should be proud of. Many of us are leaders in clubs, ASB and other extracurricular activities. Some seniors are taking classes at community colleges while still in high school and involved with school activities.
Between the Oak Leaf, rehearsals for drama, the GSA, doing homework and my friends, I’m not sure how I am still sane. But I say, bring it on! I kind of like the challenge of managing my time and trying to prioritize things.
But even with all that I am involved with, I still want to do more at Live Oak. I regret not trying out for a sport. I regret not attending Live Oak my sophomore year. I regret not acting in a play, although teaching for the plays was by far the most fun thing I have done in high school. I never got to take woodworking or fashion and design like I wanted to. My schedule never allowed it.
But no matter what we did or did not do in high school, all seniors should feel proud of what they have accomplished so far. We are all learning life lessons this year and sticking our head into the world to see what it is really like.
I would encourage seniors to spend their last semester challenging themselves and doing those things that they regretted never doing. This challenge could even be an academic one. There is no harm is trying to get those grades up to end high school knowing that you did your best. This semester might be a good time to try convincing your parents that you can be responsible and independent by getting a job or doing volunteer work.
At the beginning of the year I remember one of my teachers telling us that all seniors will all get a case of senioritus. Senioritus comes during the spring when the sun is shining and graduation is not far away. Apparently it is very tempting to neglect school and spend the day at the beach. Again, I say bring it on! My eyes are focused on graduation.
When I talk to my friends who have already graduated they remind me to appreciate high school, take it seriously and above all, have fun because we are only in high school once. I’m starting to understand what they mean.
