As summer is fast approaching, seniors are getting ready to graduate and finish up their high school career. While a majority of the student body has time left in school, seniors have been reflecting this whole year on how to use their time wisely before high school ends. This review focuses specifically on specific time periods of senior year and the experiences and emotions that came with them, ranking each one out of 10.
Fall 9/10
Fall is one of the most fun times of senior year. Football games, Halloween and fall weather make it super enjoyable. Although I do have to mark down one point because college applications are due in November, it’s still an ecstatic time with the excitement of starting your “first-last year” in high school brimming in the air. That fresh start and warm weather in September and October are unbeatable. Although it can be stressful, I would rate this period a 9/10 for its memorable events and spooky fun.
November-January stretch- 6/10
This is peak college application stress. The Nov. 1 deadline feels like the end of the world, and regular decision applications are piling onto the stress. With some colleges offering due dates from January 1 to 15, it seems slightly flexible, right? Well, no. The looming deadlines feel like a never-ending weight on your shoulders. These few months earn a 6/10 because while we do have Thanksgiving and Christmas break, the stress overpowers them.
College decisions (April-May) – 7/10
College decisions leave mixed feelings. Whether you’re going to your dream college or not, it still feels like a huge relief to make the decision. The weight of college is over, and you can finally stop stressing. Suddenly, your entire Instagram feed is “RHS Next Steps,” flooding the app with people’s decisions. You might think your world is imploding if you haven’t made your decision, or if you are still waiting for an email about a waitlist decision. However, eventually choosing a school and at least knowing what you’re doing with your future is a huge stress reliever. This period of time deserves a 7/10 for its stress relief, yet still ongoing pressure for college.
When everyone starts getting sad (May-June) – 9/10
What a bittersweet time. Most people know what they are doing next year, and people start to realize how little time they have left. Although some may be overly excited to end high school, the feeling of growing up and never being able to be 18 in high school again lingers. While it’s a sad feeling, it’s a time of togetherness. People start to hang out more: We have graduation, Senior Sunrise and Grad Night. So many events are curated and happening around this time to commemorate our next chapter in life. Sad, but bittersweet. The final stretch of high school deserves a 9/10 because while change can be hard, our futures are ahead of us.
