Senior year approaches faster than what one might think, and oftentimes we are left at a stand still, wishing we knew what to do. You can read a self-help book, a magazine, ask someone who has graduated, but you still end up with the same question. What should I do? What am I supposed to do in these last few months? I might not be able to help with these questions much at the moment, but I do know that I can give some advice, tips and tricks, and how-tos for you underclassmen as you prepare to make your journey through senior year.

Be YOU

This seems like a no-brainer, but it may be more difficult than you think. I struggled with this and I know many others do as well. 

Don’t allow others to define you based on what you wear, like, or how many people follow you on Instagram. You may think that it will make you happy, and it might for a while, but in the end you end up longing, longing to fill a whole that is filled with meaningless textiles, likes, and words people don’t mean. 

Don’t be afraid to be opinionated. You have every right to your opinion and what you think is best. Allow yourself to be heard, in writing, words, art, and in any form of expression. Your goal in life should not be to make all those around you happy, but to inform them of the things they never knew about. Never silence yourself. 

Don’t be afraid to try new things as you develop into the person that you are going to be. Wear that black eyeliner to school, wear that strapless dress out with your girlfriends, or put on those new shoes that others might not like. Live for yourself and define you. 

Find Balance

I know you are probably reading this and thinking:  “Yeah I already know this,” but you would be surprised at how difficult it is. I often spent too many hours doing homework instead of making lifelong memories with friends. I would soon realize this then I would spend to much time with friends and soon my grades would see the consequences of my actions. In the end, my grades suffered and so did I. 

Be true to what you need to be successful, and define your own success. If getting that B when you tried your best or helping a friend through a tough situation is what you deem as success, then you have balance. 

Be sure to set boundaries. Don’t stay out super late or get swept up in having to get that “A.” Take the time to do the things you love to do. 

I only wish I would have listened when others advised me to do what makes me happy. I hope you will. 

It’s all Important 

At this moment in time many may be counting the days till graduation, others making it through the years one day at a time. However, it’s all important—every joke, every assignment, every long night, every practice—because in the end these are our lifelong memories. You get to decide how you revisit them. 

These memories and the small moments throughout the day will shape you into the person you will become. From starting a new hobby, to forming new political ideals, all of these things add up to make you the adult you will be after you graduate. Make it all count. Find the things you believe in by chatting with others, try new hobbies, new sports, because in the end you only get one go-around at this thing called life.

These are just a few rough guidelines that I hope will help you along your journey. Everyone’s experience is a different path with turns and twists. In the end, I hope that if you take none of the advice listed above, you will at least remember to be kind, laugh hard, and embrace your journey.