The last semester of my senior year is officially underway! I have a lot of questions about the future but luckily there are a lot of resources and helpful individuals around campus that can be of aid. All of these questions in this transition phase remind me a lot of another time in life. Senior year of high school was another time filled with infinite amount of questions for the future. Looking back, I wish could have told my senior self some key points of advice. I would like to present five messages my senior college self would tell my senior high school self, with the hope that some of my realizations and wisdom will have the potential to address the many (sometimes irrational) concerns a senior in high school may have.
1) Stop walking. A little bit of worry is healthy (I read it somewhere, I actually think it’s backed scientifically) but the huge amounts of stress that come with your senior year are not worth it! It is important to focus on your classes and enjoy your senior year. Looking back I would have told myself that the pattern on your comforter will in no way determine your college success. Focus on the large tasks, avoid irrational fears, basically chill and don’t stress the small stuff!
2) Learn about your college’s resources. Regardless of what institution you decide to attend, it is important to learn about your college resources so you can utilize them as much as possible the entirety of your career. In my case, I was able to learn about Nazareth College’s free tutoring services, free Zumba classes, and free food at campus sponsored events! Many colleges come with a variety of free services that you will want to take full advantage of. You don’t want to get to your senior year and realize that Italian club has been hosting free lunches with homemade Italian food almost every week for the majority of your academic career!
3) Become a master of time management. Procrastination was a major part of my high school career; although I am certainly not completely free of the habit by any means, I have been able to effectively schedule my time and stay organized and aware of deadlines. Buying a planner is probably the best advice I have. Additionally, it is important to not overwhelm yourself at first. Some people can work part time, have a full schedule, and be a part of a club and deal successfully, while some cannot and that is ok! Figuring out what works for you to be most successful takes time but is more than worth the effort.
4) Be confident. This advice may be easier said than done. However, going out of your comfort zone and working to develop your self-assurance are some of the most rewarding things you can do in college. In high school, it was easy to care what other people thought and did. With college comes an amazing four years in which you have the capability to be selfish. When I say selfish I mean to do what you want to do! Take juggling classes, study abroad in Peru, volunteer at the local animal shelter, do what makes you truly happy and be completely unapologetic in doing so.
5) Enjoy yourself! There will be points in your undergraduate career where it will feel as though your four long years will never end, but it does, and does so very quickly. Stay up late, hang out with your very best friends, study for tests, eat all you can eat in the dining hall, learn as much as you can, live to your fullest ability, and love every minute of it.
I wish all seniors in high school the very best, and to my fellow seniors in college-it’s been a really good time.
Our seniors are full of advice. Here’s Packy’s “Advice to Senior, from a Senior” and Mary’s “3 Things I’ve Learned at Naz: A Senior’s Perspective”.