Senior Year Tips

Piper Nicely- Editor in Chief

This one is for all my seniors! 

Now I know that this year is not going the way any of us wanted, and for many of us the college application and senior year stress just increased tenfold. We were always told senior year was difficult, but throw in a pandemic and hybrid school and wow, this year is a doozie. So I thought I would compile a little list of things we should do for ourselves to survive college application season and come out (somewhat) unscathed. Now, I am in no way doing all of these things perfectly, but honestly that’s the hard part. Senior year is messy, we’re all stressed, but we’re also all trying our best. So take a look at this list and see if there’s anything you could try to improve on or add into your daily life to make things a little bit easier for yourself.

1. Make a List

This feels so simple and dumb, but it is honestly one of the best ways to organize yourself and alleviate stress. I personally make a “to do” list almost every day, as it keeps me from getting scatter-brained and holds me accountable for all the things I have to do. So make a list. Make one for your day, for your month, for everything you need to do to finish those pesky college apps. You can put it in a notebook, a planner, a piece of scrap paper or heck, even on a candy wrapper, just get it all written down. It can seem like a lot when it’s all floating around in your head with no structure, but seeing it on paper makes it seem far more manageable and makes sure you won’t miss anything important. Plus you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment everytime you can cross something off that list!

2. Plan a College Visit

If you’re terrified of going to college like I am, going on a college visit can really help to put things in perspective. My parents signed me up to get a tour of campus and being able to see the city and the town really helped bring college down to earth for me. It doesn’t seem so far off and scary when you’re there on campus and able to talk to students there, and it gives you a great chance to explore the town and get a feel for what might be your new home. Colleges are now offering in-person tours that take you around campus with a student guide while maintaining social distancing or virtual tours that walk you through the campus digitally with videos and interviews from staff and students.

3. Go to Bed

This one is hard. So very hard. While staying up all night to cram for a test or push through your homework may seem like a good idea at the time, it is only going to come back to haunt you in the end. I’m really bad at this (at the time of writing this it is 1:29 am, yikes), but am trying to get better. Try to find a schedule that works for you, a time to go to bed and a time to wake up. On my days going to school online, I have a set time I make myself get up to avoid succumbing to laziness and I try to go to bed at a somewhat reasonable time during the week. While it may feel smart to finish that homework or try to study for that test, you are only going to feel exhausted and miserable the next day and will wish you had gotten at least a little bit sleep. A few hours is better than none, so close that textbook, turn off your phone, and go to bed!

4. Ask for Help

Another hard one. I am painfully, almost criminally, shy and usually choose not to ask for help from teachers and counselors as it results in a fair amount of anxiety, but there really is no better way to get answers and help. Right now, your teachers and counselors have answers and advice that are beyond helpful. Take advantage of the resources you have. Email your counselor the question you think is kind of dumb, ask your English teacher to edit your application essays even if it’s embarrasing, have your parents go on college visits with you and don’t be afraid to let them ask very “concerned parents questions”. Compare essays and forms with your friends because maybe they caught something you missed. Everyone around you right now is either in the same boat as you or there to help you, there are no dumb questions anymore!

5. Make an Effort

The hybrid schedule and online classes can make it really easy to slack off, believe me I know. It can seem like a lot more fun to spend your online class texting your friends or doing basically anything else, but that lack of commitment will reflect in our grades faster than we can believe. It can be so hard to stay focused and motivated now, so do whatever it takes to get your work done and to stay on top of things. If that means making yourself a schedule to stick to or having study groups with your friends, then go for it! Work on learning how to teach yourself topics and developing good study habits, these skills can only help us in college down the road!

6. Take Time for Yourself

Right now, it seems like everything is riding on getting good grades and getting in those cursed college applications. So much so that we are forgetting to take time for our interests, passions and overall mental health. Even though it may feel like a waste of time with all we have to do, take a few minutes every day to do something you actually enjoy. Since lockdown started, I began replaying my favorite video game from childhood with my dad, and being able to play that for an hour after I get home from school or when I’m feeling stressed really helps me feel like myself again. I work my way through TV series by watching an episode every morning before school, as it helps me start my days grounded and in a good mood, and have shows that my family watch so we can spend time together in the evenings. Find something you love to bring you back to earth. Whether it be a book, a tv show, a game, cooking, exercising or playing music, just do what it takes to feel better and to remember that you are more than just a good grade or application essay.

7. Cherish Your Friends

This is so important right now. Next year, we are going to be separated from some of the people that have been our closest friends since childhood, so it is important to spend the time we have now staying connected. It can be hard to hang out in person now, whether you’re swamped with work or still living in a global pandemic, but turn on facetime for a study date or try going on walks with your friends where you can stay socially distant but still see them. Even if you aren’t able to meet in person, text, call and facetime, send your friend a funny meme or a tiktok that made you think of them. Anything to make the most of the time we have left together. We take our friends for granted a lot, let them know how much they really mean to you. When I woke up to a message my best friend had sent at 3 am (see tip 3 as to why this wasn’t the best idea) saying that she loved me and appreciated the role I play in her life, it absolutely made my day. Keep up interactions with your friends, let you know you love them, you’ll be thankful you didn’t push them away to stress over school work later in life.

Alright seniors, we can do this! College application season is almost over and Southview’s seniors are on top of things. Take a deep breath, class of 2021, we got this!