As I become a high school graduate on May 22, I look back on this past year with not only gratitude for all the moments I got to have, but also the growth I have made in such a short time. Looking back at the past four years, I would agree that senior year was the biggest change: discovering new things and getting to know people I never thought I would be close to a year ago. Now that I am at the end of my high school journey, it’s time to reflect on the past and offer advice to those who will start senior year soon.
Senior year moments start towards the end of your junior year, with starting your college essay in your English class and figuring out which teacher you want to write your teacher recommendation. As you finish your last final in May, you start to realize you are headed into your final year of high school: senior year.
Summer begins: you might practice your sport, start a summer job or just find time to hang with your friends, but no matter what you’re doing, you should stay busy. During that time, you could be finding yourself at college tours all around the United States. August rolls around, the CommonApp opens up and you start to begin applying to colleges. This process could take a couple of months, considering how many colleges you are applying to. One senior, Lesly Andres, agrees, while she says, “Don’t be afraid to ask for help from counselors, teachers, or other students. It’s okay not to have your whole life planned out as a senior; trust in God’s plan for you!”
As this process is going on, please don’t forget you are in your final moments of high school. This is during football season, homecoming and fall Kairos. You could talk to any senior currently and the biggest thing they would recommend is taking it all in. I know many seniors now would agree with me that the fall season in your high school life is something they would love to go back to. Cherish those months especially, even though you are dealing with all the applications.
The November 1 deadline rolls around and if you apply early action/decision, you are officially done applying to those schools. Be proud of yourself for all the hard work you put into applying because this is not something that is easy. Once you get to that time in your life, it is officially all in God’s hands.
After the November deadline, you have plenty of things to look forward to: the father-daughter dance, mother-daughter brunch, Thanksgiving and winter break! Since junior year, it was my goal for my dad and I to make it to the final round for the father-daughter dance. Now I am proud to say my dad and I were finalists in my senior year! Examples like that remind me how senior year is full of new opportunities and new chances. If there is a goal you haven’t reached yet or something you are willing to try, take that opportunity during your senior year. During your fall semester finals, make sure you not only study hard for that but also embrace the long breaks to spend time with family and friends.
And if senioritis didn’t start for you during the fall semester, it might begin once you come back from winter break. You are in your final months of high school and still have so much to look forward to. Red & Gold, spring Kairos and your final high school dances: winter formal and Prom. When the Red & Gold list is sent out and you have your options to pick what part of the show you want to be in, do not hesitate to consider trying something new. Or even better, sign up for a captain spot if you are available to do so. I truly think the Red & Gold season goes by so fast, but it didn’t seem like it in the process. So, during the next Red & Gold season, if you are feeling stressed, overwhelmed and like the time is going by so slowly, understand this is your final season of Red & Gold– trust in the process and know whatever the outcome may be, you will have the best time on your journey.
Red & Gold season ends, spring break is in just a couple of weeks and graduation is not far away from that. You will start to discover which college you will be attending in the fall while counting the days before summer officially begins. As this era starts in your life, make sure you take in every moment of your last high school journey. Daisy Alvarado ’26 exclaims, “I would say to enjoy every second of it because it may feel like a lot before graduating, but time flies so fast senior year.” Cherish every moment with your friends while finishing strong in each of your classes. Prom will come around the corner, so enjoy each second during your last high school dance.
Time will go on, and all the events you attend will come and go, and you will be in your final weeks leading up to your graduation. Senior exit interviews will rise; make sure you look at your emails regarding the event and always reach out to alumnae who went through that experience. The last couple of weeks do sure fly by. Take in every last couple of classes, breaks and lunches with friends, and make sure to plan fun events so you can enjoy hanging out with your friends.
If you are reading this as an upcoming junior, sophomore or you’re about to start your freshman year, take this advice from current seniors and me. This advice could apply to any school year that you are at during your time at Rosary. To sum it up, try new things, enjoy the moments, and make so many memories with your friends.
