With graduation approaching, many seniors are balancing college decisions, final assignments, and last memories with friends while preparing for life after high school. Between deciding which college they will be attending, final assignments, and making memories with friends, many students are trying to balance their excitement, stress, and nostalgia during their last month.
Many seniors experience the pressure of preparing for the future. This emotion has made this year feel overwhelming. Senior Juliza Abrica described her experience as “pretty hectic,” especially during the first semester. “My senior year has been pretty hectic with college applications during the first semester,” Abrica said. “The second semester was just filled with anxiety waiting on acceptances, along with finals. To be honest, I think only barely now are we getting a break as the year is coming to an end.”
As graduation comes closer, some students mention that everything feels like it is happening too quickly. “Feeling stressed because everything is going by so fast, it doesn’t feel real yet,” Abrica said. Despite the stress, she has still made time to enjoy important senior experiences such as prom, senior hangouts, and looking forward to grad night. Abrica will also be attending Cal State Fullerton after graduation.
Other seniors say staying motivated has become one of the hardest parts of the final months. Senior Clarissa Silva explained that “since it’s the last month, you just want it to be over so you get lazier.” While balancing responsibilities can be difficult, Silva says she has been focusing on finishing school while also making time for herself.
“I try to prioritize schoolwork first, but we don’t have much to do right now,” Silva said. “Now that school’s almost finished, I’m focusing on myself.” Like many seniors, Silva has been spending as much time as possible with friends and participating in final activities before graduation. “Spending time with my friends, constantly making plans, going to all the last senior events and making plans with my peers outside of school,” Silva said.
Although many seniors are stressed about the future, others feel more prepared for the next chapter of their lives. Silva shared that she feels “pretty confident” about her plans after high school and is “pleased with the schools” she chose. Silva plans to attend Chapman University after graduation. She also encouraged future seniors to stay organized and avoid procrastination. “Definitely don’t wait until the last minute, buy all your necessary things for graduation and go to all the events, you don’t want to get fomo,” Silva said.
For some students, senior year has been more about enjoying time with friends and creating lasting memories. Senior Benjamin Jaime described his year as “pretty fun” because he was “surrounded by a good circle of friends.” However, he also acknowledged that balancing responsibilities has been challenging. “The workload is a lot if not managed well,” Jaime said.
While every senior’s experience is different, many students can agree that the final month of high school is filled with change. Some students are feeling burnt out and eager to graduate, while others are trying to enjoy every last moment with their friends. Whether students feel excited, stressed, nostalgic, or uncertain, senior year remains an important transition that many will remember long after graduation.
