Dear incoming seniors,

Congratulations on nearly completing your high school experience! Your senior year is an exciting time that will be filled with new possibilities and beginnings. It’s a year of lasts, with your last football game, last prom, last yearbook picture. But it’s also a year of firsts, as you begin your first steps into true adulthood. 

From nervously beginning freshman year, to now being on the brink of senior year, it’s important to cherish every moment. Take tons of pictures and videos to be able to look back and relive your favorite ones, but don’t be embarrassed or forget to be in pictures too. You’ll miss every memory that passes, even the ones that seem insignificant, so don’t let time slip by unnoticed. Make the most of every opportunity that stumbles upon you, no matter how small or big. Whether it’s cheering for your last homecoming game or stressing about college applications: embrace it. Together, all of these different experiences will make your senior year unique to you.

Your time at high school will come to an end sooner than you realize, so be sure to continue to stay focused on both personal and academic goals. Set objectives for yourself, like getting into your dream college or simply no longer procrastinating getting homework done. As you try to accomplish these goals, don’t be afraid to ask for help from teachers, counselors, or friends when you need it. Senior year can often feel overwhelming and tiring with things like college acceptances and exams with the pressure to figure out your future looming over you. Set some time aside to be able to take a break, catch your breath, and do things that you enjoy to manage any stress.

Challenge yourself more than you ever have before and step out of comfort zones to try exciting new things. You can leave your mark in many different ways, such as getting a high score on an AP exam, scoring the winning goal, or even just being there for a friend in need. More often than not, people will remember the end of your stay at high school, not the beginning, which makes it your most important year. But don’t let academics and sports stop you from having some much needed fun along the way. Make time for late night drives with the windows down, beach trips, and movie nights with friends, because they are every bit as important as anything educational. Make your final year count. 

You’ve got this!

Don’t stress, 

Yazmine Chairez