Senior advises underclassmen

Prior to my senior year, I considered myself having senioritis since freshman year.

I thought of high school, and everything that went with it, was completely overrated. I did not go out and make a wide variety of friends, taking for granted that I did not have a wide social circle, and could not wait to pack my bags and head to college without looking back.

Now, sitting here at the end of my senior year, I have realized that I was completely wrong on my judgments of people and high school itself.

In the beginning of this year, I had a change of heart and made the decision to not be antisocial any longer. I left my house, got out of my comfort zone, got to know people from my class and the class below me with whom I had barely talked before and made some great friendships.

I had a great senior golf season, finally, became close to my teammates and went to every home football and basketball game.

Overall, I had a great senior year and what helped tremendously was being around a wide variety of people whom I enjoyed. This year made me realize what I had missed out on before, and if my attitude was different before, the previous years could have gone much differently.

Now, as I am almost finished with high school, I would like to give advice to the upcoming seniors.

In the start of your senior year, you have probably become sick of your peers who you have seen every day for the past six years. You will be stressing over the intimidation of college applications and trying to get in one last ACT and senioritis will surely be kicking in. But trust me, it will hit you when you have attended your last Homecoming, the last home football game and last game or tournament of a sport in which you have participated the last four years of your life. Time will quickly creep up. So, here is the advice I’d like to give:

Do not ever worry how others think of you. It is none of your business, and you should not let them stop you from being yourself and doing what you want to do. Whatever sport you play or club you are in, give it your all, and enjoy every second of it. Go to every home football and basketball game that you can make, and show off your school spirit.

I can not stress this one enough, but be around people who genuinely make you feel good about yourself and whom you enjoy being around. When I finally did that this year, it made my high school experience so much better. Get to know your class and the classes below you and make great memories with them.

Like me, you will realize that high school is coming to an end quickly, and everything you do this year will be your last. So, enjoy every second; this coming year will fly by. Make the best of every school day and every weekend. Appreciate and cherish every moment you have with both friends and family, because graduation is coming sooner than you think.

The advice I give is what I have realized going through my last year of high school, and as I look back on it, I have made some great memories with great people. I feel like I succeeded in living it to my fullest. So don’t rush senior year.

Enjoy every moment.