I’m a senior in high school, heading off to college soon. I’ve had a full year of thinking, wishing, applying, and planning for college, waiting to hear back from schools, and now college has almost arrived. As I write this, there are two weeks left until my exams. Honestly, so far I’ve been miserable. The stress of the school year is getting to me, especially now that I feel like there’s nothing to work towards anymore. I put in the hard work early, and my grades are good enough that I’m going to my chosen school no matter what! I’ll stay fourth in my class no matter what. So my three STEM courses are becoming a major drag. My school schedule is so busy that I hardly have any time for myself, and it’s hard not to feel depressed in the day to day. But people keep reminding me that this is the end of an era, and that I should try to enjoy it. So try I shall! Today I’ve compiled four tips for finding joy in waiting for college, and I’ll be trying them right with you.
1. Enjoy everything high school has to offer.
There’s a lot of fun things to experience in high school that you’ll never get to do again! Go to prom, with friends if you don’t have a date. Go to football games (my school doesn’t actually have any so that’s something I’m looking forward to in college). Talk to the people you’ve always been afraid to talk to! You might wish you had later on. Enjoy your clubs and extracurriculars because you might end up doing different things in college.
2. Get excited for your future school.
Personally, I just enrolled in a college a few weeks ago, and it was a massive relief. But now, I’m getting excited about what going there will be like. Check out any videos or social media pages your future school has! Read about clubs you might like to join. Check out the website for your major or academic department, or learn about the different courses of study if you haven’t picked one. My mom bought me a sweatshirt from my school, and it’s nice to show some school spirit! Try to meet people in your incoming class on social media.
3. Make summer plans.
Over the summer, will you work? Travel? Spend time on your hobbies? Switch to a new college look? The world is your oyster, and I’ve been passing a lot of time fantasizing about my summer plans. Make plans with high school friends for a last hoorah before everyone goes their own separate ways. If you have a summer birthday, throw a big 18th birthday bash (I know I am).
4. Remember that everything is temporary.
As bad as senioritis can feel in the moment, remember that everything in your life right now, for better or will eventually change. A lot of things will be changing very soon when you start college. So soak in everything about your current life, the good, the bad, and the ugly, and take comfort in remembering it won’t last.
Most of these are things I’ve already been doing to some extent, but that I’m trying to implement more and more. I hope these tips helped you find joy in a weird and sometimes painful time. College is just around the corner. Until next time,
Max