You might be reading this because you’re already a high school senior, almost a senior, or a few years away from being a senior. Whatever level you’re at in high school, you’re eventually going to reach this great milestone in your life as a high school senior (assuming you’re pursuing graduation).

Being a senior is an exciting moment because of graduation, choosing a college, many trips, and the year you became a young adult. You, like almost every senior, will experience a roller coaster of emotions when entering this final stage of high school. Emotions like stress, happiness, anger, and bittersweet. That’s okay. 

Fortunately for you, this article will help you have a better understanding of the dos and don’ts to make your senior year less stressful, more accomplished, and better prepared.

The Dos:

• During your early days as a senior, you should probably have an idea of what career interests you. This would help you focus on classes that are relevant to your career and speed up your college application process. Also, it’s a great idea to research your career using this website, My Next Move, to see if it matches your interests or browse for careers that interest you. 
• You should know who you are and think about a moment in your life that led to personal growth or an unforgettable life lesson. This is important for finalizing your college essay during senior year, which you’re going to have to write about. The earlier you come up with a topic, the more time you have to complete the college essay. 
• Find extracurricular activities to do so you can add it to your college application, especially if you’re planning to go to an Ivy League college or a private college. Your GPA and SAT scores aren’t enough to get you accepted into them. 
• Be comfortable with taking on challenging tasks. In life, there are going to be times when you have to do a task that seems impossible or daunting. Taking on challenging tasks helps you develop stronger neural pathways in your brain, which helps you become smarter. You learn when your brain is challenged to do deep thinking. Just like building muscles, you need to lift heavy weights so that the muscles get bigger.

The Don’ts:

• Don’t slack off and finish strong. A lot of the seniors tend to overlook their classes due to having confidence in their academic records. This leads to students not taking their classes seriously and instead focusing on the bare minimum, which most likely leads to a decrease in cumulative average. 
• Don’t stay inside your bubble. Start networking with other seniors or teachers who can help you or advise you later on after graduation. Go and participate in after-school programs, trips, or events. Even if these “aren’t your thing” to do. This would help you develop better communication skills and be less socially awkward, which is a key skill to have at college and in the real world. 
• Don’t procrastinate. Procrastination is a major problem that happens to everyone. You should start to finish your work on time to make yourself more disciplined and productive. Over time, you can take on challenging tasks and work, which is a crucial mentality to have at college or at a job. Discipline allows you to stay focused on your goals and things that are important to you in life. 
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help. There are a lot of new things you’re going to have to do, especially during your senior year. Such as your college application, new class subjects, creating a resume, and preparing for your adult life. You’re not expected to know about all these things at once. So ask for help throughout your life, even when it seems like you’re the only one who doesn’t understand.

Overall, your senior year is a very special year of your life that can set you up for the real world. It should be treated seriously because it’s going to greatly contribute to who you are as a person and what you become. You should make responsible choices to make the most of your senior year, so that you face less regret from your future self. The more you get involved and the more open-minded you become, the more memorable and accomplished your senior year will be.

The sky is the limit.