Senior Year: Beating the Strain
One perspective on tackling the demands of your last year of high school
BY SYLVIA LEIGH
Congratulations! You've made it three-quarters of the way through high
school, conquered finals, countless essays and those 3-hour-long AP exams. By
now you know everything there is to know about high school, right? Well, not
exactly. Even the best students find their senior year full of new obstacles.
This is your last year together with all your friends, your last chance to win
the state championship you've been dreaming about since freshman year and don't
forget the "minor detail" of applying to college. All of this can become pretty
overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. There are a few simple things you can
do to stay sane and make the most of your senior year.
Don't procrastinate.
I knew a girl who decided to wait until winter vacation to fill out her
applications. Her reasoning was that she just didn't have enough time during
school. While her friends and family were having fun over the holidays, she
spent all of her time holed up in her room, sweating out the essays. The
pressure wore her out and she regretted not having time to give her applications
as much attention as they deserved. Get a head start on the application process
by reading carefully through the entire application as soon as you get it. This
will give you a chance to start thinking about what the college is asking for
and your possible responses. Keep a planner with important dates and deadlines
to keep you on track and fully aware of just how much time you have. If you're
having problems getting started, do the easy parts first (i.e. name, address,
etc.), then tackle the activities list and essays in parts.
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