Whether it’s called the Senior Slump, Senioritis, or Final year fatigue, we are all aware of this phenomenon. This year is lined with challenges, with one of the biggest being that you're tasked with deciding seemingly your whole future. It’s a year that becomes one of the questions: will you go to trade school, take a gap year, or go to college? Should you stay in-state or move away? All these uncertainties may lead to you feeling stretched too thin, often leading to burnout. This form of fatigue can cause you to feel stuck in a frustrating cycle of procrastination and declining motivation. Luckily, below are simple ways to ensure you have a successful senior year!
Figuring Out Your Path
During this period, many people may want to offer advice on what path to take. Your neighbor may advocate for the college that he attended, swaying you to add it to your list even if you don’t know much about it. Or your friends may urge you to select career paths similar to theirs. However, you must define what’s right for you and evaluate what you really want for your future, aside from others’ expectations. One way to start is by developing your own criteria for the colleges, technical schools, or even internships you want to pursue post-graduation. In order to do so, it may be necessary to take a step back and question what it is that you desire. Do you plan on living far from home or staying close to your community? Will you work while in school? Are there any academic programs that interest you? By doing this reflection, you are ensuring that you will align yourself with the path that best suits you.
Leaning On Your Counselors and Mentors
Another way that can help take pressure off is getting comfortable with your guidance counselor. That way, you can relieve some stress by speaking to a professional about both your challenges and successes. Developing this relationship is also crucial in deciding your plan post-graduation, as it will be easier for them to guide a student whom they have a well-developed understanding of. An easy way to start is by having a conversation about your personal goals and interests. This relationship is also important to ensuring good letters of recommendation for any institution or jobs you may want to pursue after graduation.
If you lack a connection with the faculty at your school, that’s okay-mentors are always an option. Whether it’s someone at your job, internship, volunteer space, etc., making connections and seeking advice from people who are successful in your desired field can help prepare you significantly. These people can give you the necessary information about an industry that you otherwise wouldn’t be able to access.
Reorganizing Your Academic Priorities
Another benefit of senior year is that you are now given more agency over your schedule than ever before. With most of your core credits out of the way, you have even greater leeway to determine what classes you will take for your final year. However, with this new responsibility, it is often easy to opt for easier classes to ease the pressure. Thus, it’s important to refer back to your core goals in order to determine what schedule suits you best.
If you want to signal to colleges that you’re willing to maintain academic rigor, it may be best to balance higher-level courses with your other commitments such as extracurriculars, part-time work, or even sports. Or maybe you would rather focus on immersing yourself in potential fields for graduation, and you seek school-supported internships instead. Or you could prefer emphasizing socialization, and thus you would rather have a minimum day to be with friends. The choice is yours, just make sure that your schedule aligns properly with your expectations and vision for your final year- remember, there is no right or wrong choice. In fact, if you later decide that maybe you want to increase or decrease the rigor of your classes, conversations with counselors are always an option!
Making the Most Out of Your Year
Finally, senior year has the potential to be one of the most memorable and rewarding parts of your high school experience. It's your final opportunity to do anything you have yet to cross off your bucket list. Is there a club you have been waiting to join? Or a specific activity with friends that you haven’t done? Is there a sports event you haven’t attended? Yes, these options may even include cheesier activities like participating in Senior Sunrise or dressing up for Homecoming week. Now is the best time to take a moment to reflect on any ways you have yet to step out of your comfort zone. It’s crucial that you tackle these activities to make sure that you don’t graduate with “what if?” Plus, these fun activities can also be a good way to keep the year fun and upbeat in spite of all the academic stress that often comes with this period.
Thank you to Chloe C for editing this article!
Sources:
- https://admissions.usf.edu/blog/5-back-to-school-tips-for-senior-year-success
- https://www.collegedata.com/resources/prepare-and-apply/dos-and-donts-for-high-school-seniors
- https://thescholarshipsystem.com/blog-for-students-families/senior-year-checklist/