My World! | Preparing for Senior Year!!!!

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Preparing for Senior Year!!!!

Posted by: Haylee Mitchell on July 25, 2007 at 11:51AM EST

There is so much excitement and energy when it comes to senior year. I have been waiting to be a senior ever since I arrived at Marist in 7th grade! However, as the summer is starting to come to an end and the school year is drawing near, I have started to become quite anxious and nervous!

Being involved in theatre at Marist, the plays require so much of my time either being everyday practices from 4-6:30 or 6:30-9:30 along with practices on Sunday normally 4 hours long. Besides this I am taking 3 AP classes AND my family has season tickets to the Auburn and Vanderbilt football games that I LOVE to go to! But most importantly, I have to start filling out my applications for COLLEGE and browse around for possible scholarships. Along with all of this I am also singing for Music Ministry, Emmaus leader, Eucharist Minister Board leader, Grade Level Coordinator, involved in Metonia, and Habitat for Humanity. The thought of all of this is alittle stressful!!!

Thinking about all that I have coming up this year is so exciting and I know this year will be amazing but to help keep my stress level down I need to start getting some things out of the way now. It is only the 3rd week of July so I am going to start writing my college applications now, but along with that I have to finish my last 3 summer reading books. I have quite a hectic couple months coming up, and that is why I am so anxious to start writing my college applications so I don't have that stress in the fall along with football games, school work, play practices, and of course, SENIORITIS!

Anyone who has graduated and had a crazy senior year, I would love some advice on how to keep up with everyday and not become stressed! Thanks!

(2) Comments

Posted by: Kate on July 31, 2007 9:38AM EST

It sounds like you have a lot on your plate this year. I just graduated this past year from high school and at times I felt overwhelmed trying to balance my life with all the APs, volleyball, yearbook and college applications. Having said this, I also had the most fun senior year. Since it is your last year with everyone, I think people tend to get closer with people outside of their group. I know my class became really close by the end of the year during all the senior activities. You also have so many things to look forward to because it is your last year.

Like Jax said, beginning with your applications ASAP can help you save yourself from stress later in the year. Also, narrowing down your list of colleges you are applying to can save you loads of time and force you to really choose a few colleges which are right for you so that your final decision will be easier. Another thing is that most colleges these days accept the common application which means you only have to fill out one application for multiple colleges. Find out which colleges accept the common, this tip saved me tons of stress during the application process. Good luck!

Posted by: Jax on July 25, 2007 12:37PM EST

You're on the right track with getting your college app essays out of the way now. I wish I started earlier, and I started in the summer! I would pull off the common app essays as soon as they come out and start brainstorming about those. I wrote three essays before I decided on the one to use. After I chose the essay, I rewrote it (proofing it and everything) probably another 5 times. Then you have to do all of the supplementary essays and short answer questions to all of the schools you apply. Some schools have multiple long essays you can write. So the more you can get done over the summer, the better!

As for the other things, I was just like you. I took on WAY too much for my schedule. I did Emmaus leader, Sr. Emmaus, Euch. Min. Board, Metanoia, H4H Pres, and YB editor. I skipped Peer Leader because I knew I wouldn't have enough time to devote to my Peer Kids. Instead of the play, I did competitive cheerleading. I also took on 3 AP classes because I really needed to have 4 to get into the collge I wanted, and I only took one junior year. You will get stressed out--there's really no way that you're not! Just take it one day at a time. I was always up really late and didn't get much sleep. Looking back on it, I'm glad that I had all of the experiences I did. Remember that you can always turn something down--I didn't really learn that until college. Sometimes it's better to dedicate a lot of time to a few things than a little time to a bunch of things. Get a planner and plan out every hour. If it gets to be too much, maybe not try out for a play?!? (I know that's not what you want to hear, but if you're already committed to everything else, it's too late to turn those down now.) If you're feeling too overwhelmed, talk to the faculty advisors and see if you can reschedule meetings to better fit your schedule (EM Board, Metanoia, and H4H will probably be more flexible because there aren't as many people involved.)

Check out fastweb.com for scholarships. The hard part is writing the essays and then having to get teacher recs. After you write essays, try to recycle them (use them again for other scholarships or rewrite them so they'll work with the prompt).

All I can do is wish you good luck. Take time to pray and relax sometime. You won't have much time to hang out with friends and watch TV, but you choose what you want to do and what's important to you! When you look back on senior year you want to rember enjoying it. It's not always as grand as everyone says it is--it wasn't for me. It was my most stressful and hardest year. I was just like you. I didn't take an easy schedule, and your teachers will make you work for those A's and B's! You'll come out on top; I know you will! Your bro can also be a great sense of relief--I'm sure he was just as busy senior year!