Checklist for a second-semester senior

As the curtains close on many seniors’ last year of high school, every moment is associated with nostalgia, excitement and sadness. The 18 years that led up to the moment that we walked across the stage have been filled with late-night laughs with friends, eighth-grade nicknames that stuck for far too long, sports games filled with spirit and stress-riddled nights staying up to write papers. Now, the journey has come to an end, and the classic ‘senioritis’ has kicked in, leaving many with lots of time on their hands and not much to do. I’ve compiled a list of ideas for seniors; it might be a good idea to check these off before you say your final goodbyes.

A sentimental visit to the Golden Gate Bridge

Growing up in Marin, visiting the Marin Headlands lookout is an absolute classic and a memory you cannot overlook. Grab a few friends, put a cozy blanket in your trunk, throw on an oversized hoodie and hop in the car. The drive is short and quite rewarding; stunning views of San Francisco immediately soothe you, and the excitement of being in one of the most beautiful places in the world is contagious. Before you leave, make sure to participate in a very famous tradition: leaving a lock on the gate of the lookout, signed with your initials. Not many high schoolers are lucky enough to live in close proximity to such a stunning location — make sure you take advantage of it before you take off.

Letter to ‘future me’

At the start of freshman year, in our social issues classroom, we all had to write a letter to our future senior selves. Opening them will likely elicit many reactions: winces at embarrassingly naive statements, laughs at incorrect guesses about ourselves or smiles at how much we’ve grown. I suggest writing another letter, but this time to your future college self. Make a few predictions about your life in four years, or ask yourself a few questions. Did you stay with the major you applied to? Who was your best friend? Do you have any regrets? What was your happiest moment? Then, make a few predictions. When you open this letter in four years, I promise you will not regret the 20 minutes it took you to write it.

Visit your old teachers

For every step along the way, you had someone in your corner helping you. This was a special teacher for most people, and it is never too late to show gratitude towards them. Whoever it is you bonded with, whether it be a fourth-grade teacher who was kind to you, an eighth-grade history teacher who inspired you, or an 11th-grade teacher who challenged you, drop by their classroom with a quick or lengthy hello. Catch up with them, explain to them what their class meant to you and remind them of the impact that they have made on their students. You will feel fulfilled knowing that you have happily closed the door on that section of your life.

Create a time capsule

Similar to writing a letter, creating a time capsule or a box with trinkets from high school is a great way to celebrate the past four years. Get a group of friends together and a couple of old shoe boxes and get to work. Paint boxes with your plans for the future, label them with your names and then fill them out. Include photos from dances and sports games, awards or essays that you were proud of, maybe even your favorite shirt or makeup product from the time. It may seem like you would remember all of these moments without the box, but it might be much more difficult to remember what dress or tux you wore to senior prom in several years.