How to Survive Senior Year

May, 2023

By Lizeth Moctezuma, Editor-in-Chief

In your last year of highschool, this is the home stretch before you get to start your life however you want. But before you let senioritis win, which will happen no matter how prepared you are– try to graduate with no regrets. As vague and impossible as it sounds, ultimately, it boils down to how you manage your time. With college or other pathways on the horizon, this is where your fruits of effort matter most.

You VS College Applications: Fight!
Do it early. There’s no such thing that there’s enough time, that procrastinating will help, because one way or another you’re gonna wish you started working on it sooner (this applies to scholarships and universities)!!! Applications are seemingly never-ending but the payoff is equal to the amount of effort you put into them. And as disapproved as it may sound, prioritize your admission status over grades. Those can be brought up before the quarter ends (please remember this part, they still matter, just on the backburner!), but your application deadlines only come once.

Ultimately a lot of senior year is about self control, especially during college application season, so take advantage of school hours and those that are around you during hard times! If you’re involved in clubs, spend time involved during lunch and use your acceleration blocks to pick up your grades because they will drop, and that’s okay (just don’t forget about them). It’s very easy to be overwhelmed by applications, so while this may mean putting your social life on hold to get an essay done, remember to take time for yourself even if it’s just weekends or having an off day once a month. You want to stay on top of the easy applications first, and never be afraid to ask questions or for help. Our counselor’s job is to lend a hand when needed, so take it! No amount of shyness is worth staying confused when your future is on the line. This can go for other teachers as well, just as you need to stay on top of yourself you can be pleasantly annoying to them as well (especially when letters of recommendations need submissions).

And while even getting into college seems difficult enough, at the end of the day it’s all about estimates. Can you see yourself actually going there? You want a variety of universities, yes, but also shoot for the stars! You never know what will happen, so apply to those target schools out of state, the ones that seem out of reach, even if it’s for chance. Don’t feel pressured by the influence of others, you’re the one paying for it in the end, so see what you like the best, don’t go off of what everyone else is thinking (aka, have your own mind).

Thinking of what kind of environment fits you (city vibes, small atmosphere, local town, etc.), good starting points for everyone is always ACC, Texas State, and SMU, but, again, don’t just apply to in-state schools. You’ll find yourself being surprised what the rest of the country has to offer outside of Texas. And if you think it’s too late for anything, it is never too late— even if it means reaching out to colleges, scholarships, or other counselors personally, so be it!

Rejection Comes and Goes
But of course, within it all there is a possibility of an admissions counselor who had a bad day reading your application or a numbered quota already met, and as corny as it sounds (we know), sometimes it wasn’t meant to be. It’s gonna hurt, but it won’t kill you. You’re going to have to pick yourself up from the floor at some point, so let out a cry if needed, it’s more than okay. Realize what the college missed out on and see what other options there are.

Rejection is easier to face when you have a selection of chances you gave yourself, so learn from these decisions and keep holding out with hope. Staying positive is a better way to spend your time and energy, so don’t beat yourself up. Or as a lot of seniors responded, “Don’t give a f—.”

And as cheesy and overused as it is, you’ll find where you’re supposed to be. And if even then it feels like the world doesn’t understand, there’s always loads of opportunities. People drop out and change schools (and majors) more than you’d think, and who knows, maybe you’ll be happier than you would’ve been! Nothing is set in stone forever unless you want it to be.

Stress Management, A Never-Ending Lesson
It’s going to be hard, there’s no way to sugar-coat it. But no matter how pressuring deadlines seem, always put yourself first!! Burn-out will take a toll on your health especially if you let it decline easily, so you need to find a stress reliever that works for you. If this means crying every once in a while, let it out. If sports take your mind off of everything else, start making time for the gym. What you want is to have a space to go to when things don’t go your way (which will happen).

Senior year is tough already, you don’t want to lose yourself in the process: so surround yourself with people who uplift you when buried under stress. Even by just lightening the mood, they can make those bad days bearable. If your social circle overlaps with electives/ clubs it’s easier to lean on friends, but if not, take the initiative to make time to spend together. Remember that it’s your final year promised together, so if hanging out and making another memory means a couple of grades drop for a bit, so be it (but remember self-control, you do have to get work done somehow)!

Faculty are also more than aware of how stressful this time can be, but communicate when you can. And take care of your sleep schedule!! Reasonable rest goes a long way alongside any hobbies or friends that maintain your support system: this is key to staying sane your senior year.

“How Do You Know if You’re Choosing The Right College?”
To every senior I brought this question to, we all came to the same conclusion: you don’t. We’re all just kids hoping for the best. Change is terrifying no matter what, so make sure this choice is yours. Don’t feel like you’re settling, nerves are okay, but you should feel excited for this next step in your life! Imagine yourself living in these places, can you envision your life there? The environment comes down to the benefits you need. And as tempting as certain paths can seem, stick to your guts: what will bring you personal fulfillment at the end of the day?

Life-Saving Tips:

• Every day check your email, spam, and trash!!!!!! Don’t risk missing important information (source: trust me).
• My school emphasized the importance of telling a story with your application: extracurriculars should reflect your interests, personal statement highlights your perseverance, and your prompt answers define your personality and what interests you about their institution.
• In interviews or worthiness in applications, carry yourself with confidence! You want to highlight your strengths and how you overcome what you lack, so fake it till you make it
• Additional Info boxes are your life-saviors!!! Whenever you have the chance to explain your circumstances a tiny bit more, take it and use it to your full advantage. Don’t have Wifi at home? Bring it up! Can’t join clubs because you have to take care of siblings? Milk it for all that you can! Explaining the littlest details can cover any gaps in your applications
• It’s never too late to apply for scholarships, college is expensive, save your money
• Don’t get Tik Tok, or at least temporarily delete it (you save time and your attention span)
• Make it a habit to regularly double check your portal and other important information on CommonApp

Senior year is by far the hardest one in highschool, but with a good support system and hopefully a less messy schedule compared to us, you’ll end up just fine. So from the Class of 2023 to everyone after us and onwards, good luck with school, life, and everything in between because when that final bell rings, who knows, you might actually miss this place.

Thank you to the 2023 seniors whose input helped make this story happen: Emilia Corrales, Naomi Gomez, Julie Gonzalez, Tashira Guzman, Karime Perez, Camille Rios, Ana Sanchez, Gabriela Sosa, Ebai Tabot, and other anonymous voices!