30 Things to Expect Your Senior Year of High School

There’s More to Expect Than Just a Case of Senioritis

There are hundreds of books, movies, and TV shows that portray senior year as a time of independence and growth. It’s true that once you hit senior year, you’re no longer a small fish in a big pond. As a senior, you’re a campus leader—it’s your responsibility to show underclassmen the ropes. Three years of high school have made you an expert on all things secondary education, but you may not know what to expect on that first day of senior year. Luckily, we’ve compiled a list for you.

1. Your dentist asking you where you’re going to college (even though you clearly don’t know yet) while cleaning your teeth.
2. Stressing out over your college applications and feeling like everyone else is getting into their college of choice—early decision, of course.
3. Lots of fancy gifts embossed with “Class of 2015.”
4. Envelopes full of graduation money from mysterious, long-lost relatives.
5. Receiving an excessive amount of graduation party invitations via Facebook.
6. AP season, which used to be the bane of your existence, becoming little more than an afterthought.
7. Regularly getting five hours of sleep on school nights…
8. …but not just because you’ve actually been studying/working/applying to college. Netflix, anyone?
9. Your doctor asking you where you’re going to college (even though you clearly don’t know yet), then telling you to eat better and sleep more.
10. That one person at school constantly keeping tabs on your class’ last Homecoming, last Chemistry lab, last first day of high school, last cafeteria hot dog…
11. Being launched into existential crises again and again by deep, personal college supplement questions.
12. Your neighbor asking you where you’re going to college (even though you clearly don’t know yet) while watering the plants in his driveway.
13. Promising not to get emotional about the future, but getting emotional about it anyway.
14. Finishing all of the college applications that seemed so daunting to you at the beginning of the summer.
15. Making new friendships, and strengthening old ones.
16. Your grandmother asking you where you’re going to college (even though you clearly don’t know yet) whenever she comes to visit.
17. Feeling overwhelmed, sad, and lonely at times.
18. Feeling overjoyed, happy, and social at times.
19. Hundreds of Facebook posts about college acceptances.
20. A few college rejections, deferrals, and waitlists that will feel like the end of the world when you receive them.
21. A few college acceptances that will make you feel like you’re on top of the world when you receive them.
22. Going to prom and realizing that it’s nothing like the movies – but still so much fun.
23. Showing up to school wearing flannel pants and an old gym shirt the day of a big exam.
24. Not knowing which college to send your deposit to mere hours before the May 1^st deadline.
25. Imparting your senior wisdom to the underclassmen who look up to you.
26. Feeling like you look absolutely ridiculous in your cap and gown.
27. A few teary goodbyes to the high school teachers you loved.
28. Being so exhausted that you sleep in until noon on the weekends.
29. The immense feeling of relief you get when you toss your graduation cap.
30. Your dentist, doctor, neighbor, and grandmother asking you where you’re going to college – and actually having an answer for them.
    

Your senior year of high school will probably be one of the busiest years of your life. For most students, this is the last year they’ll have to spend with the classmates and teachers that have deeply impacted their lives. Just remember to make as many memories as possible during your senior year—those memories and moments are the greatest high school souvenirs you can bring with you to college and beyond!