On the first day of my freshman year of high school, graduation seemed like it was about a billion years away. But by the final days of my senior year, the whole experience seemed to have gone by in an instant. Sure, there were days when algebra seemed to drag by at a snail’s pace, and it’s a wonder that I went through with my decision to major in English after my excruciatingly tedious exposure to Shakespeare junior year. But, in the words of author Gretchen Rubin, “The days are long, but the years are short.”
If you’ve just begun your senior year, the coming months are going to be some of the busiest of your life thus far, and graduation is going to be here before you know it. Be sure to hit the pause button from time to time, savor the moments as they speed by, and do all the things you can only do while you’re in high school.
1. Participate in a senior prank (as long as it’s a harmless one!)
Senior pranks are a time-honored tradition. When I was a senior, the most memorable prank was when a mischievous group of my classmates wrapped my history teacher’s entire car in plastic wrap (he was amused). Go ahead and get in on the fun. Just make sure your prank is completely legal and doesn’t break any of your school’s rules, because many a high school senior has gotten in trouble for taking it too far.
2. Thank the teachers and other mentors who have influenced you
I graduated 13 years ago, and I can count on one hand the number of teachers whose names I remember. While all teachers are doing some seriously extraordinary work, there are bound to be a few that you really click with and who will have a lasting impact on your life. Thank them while you can—it will mean more to them than you know.
3. Go to a dance, preferably prom
I was one of those high schoolers who thought dances were super lame. And they can be. But I went to my senior prom and I’m so glad I did. Trust me. You should go to your prom. Don’t have a date? Go with a friend or a group of friends. Don’t like to dance? You certainly don’t have to bust a move to have good time at prom. If nothing else, it’s a fun excuse to dress to the nines and make some memories with the people who’ve been a big part of your life for the past four years.
4. Take pictures and videos
You might dread going to school some mornings, but one day you’ll feel a certain nostalgia for those hallowed halls. Take plenty of pictures and videos so you can remember your old stomping ground.
5. Go to a school-sponsored event you wouldn’t normally attend
Never been to a football game? Avoid pep rallies like the plague? Does the word “orchestra” give you hives? Get over it and go to an event you’ve never gone to before, if for no other reason than to be able to say that you’ve taken advantage of everything your high school has to offer.
6. Make amends
There are lots of things you should leave high school with: friends, memories, life lessons, not to mention an education and a diploma. But the one thing you shouldn’t leave with is regret. If you’ve ever been less than kind to a teacher or fellow student, now is the time to make things right. You don’t want to be beating yourself up 20 years from now because you never apologized to someone you hurt.
7. Take a risk
Continuing on the theme of regret, your senior year is a good time to go out on a limb. Volunteer for a leadership position in a club. Audition for the lead role in the school play. Tell your crush how you feel. Strike up a conversation with someone you’ve been wanting to loop into your circle of friends. Trying new things beyond your comfort zone will help you prepare for all the adventures that await you in college.
8. Buy a yearbook
Buy a yearbook and make all your friends and teachers sign it. If you don’t, you’ll wish you had. At worst, it’ll be a good way to chart how much your haircut improves over the years, and at best it’ll be like a small time capsule containing some of your fondest memories.
9. Begin taking responsibility for your own life
One day soon you’re going to be totally on your own. The freedom of setting your own bedtime and eating whatever you want will be thrilling, but you’re also going to have lots of un-fun, grown-up responsibilities. Start doing your own laundry and managing your finances sooner than later so you’ll be prepared to take care of yourself once you start college.
10. Write a letter to your future self
You’re going to change so much in the coming years, and it’s important to remember who you are right now. Write a letter to yourself and discuss things like your friends, your classes, your relationship with your parents, and your goals for the future. Keep it in a safe place where you won’t forget about it, and then read it at some point down the road—perhaps, say, when your 10-year high school reunion rolls around. You’ll be fascinated to see how much you’ve changed, as well as how much you’ve stayed the same.
Now go seize the day, intrepid seniors! As one of the world’s most infamous high schoolers once said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
