Dear Incoming Seniors,
If I could go back to September 2023 I would sit myself down and tell myself to be realistic. I know this is hard to hear as a student. We all have dreams of going to Harvard or Yale but the fact of the matter is that for most, this will not be the outcome.
My one regret from senior year was my lack of taking in the moment. I, instead, stressed all of first semester of senior year about college. If there is anything I would say to underclassmen or incoming seniors, it is not to worry about something you have no control over. Here’s an example why:
I applied to 8 colleges with a 3.7 GPA and 30 ACT score. Unfortunately for me, I did not get admitted into my dream school. In the moment when I opened up my rejection letter it felt like my world was crashing down.
My dad gave me a piece of advice when I got rejected from my dream school, he said, “Rejection is redirection to where you’re meant to be.”
No matter how hard I had worked throughout high school to attend my dream school, next year I will be attending my “safety” school. You might think I would be heartbroken or crushed. And I was for a moment. But as I was submitting my housing application to University of Mississippi, I realized that wherever I may end up graduating from in 4 years will be where I was meant to be. Your first choice may not work in your favor and that’s okay.
Yes, thinking about college is stressful. Yes, applying to college is stressful. Yes, making a decision on where to go to college is stressful. But there is so much more to life than college. Senior year is a year to enjoy, not to stress.
When you wake up on the first day of senior year, it will feel different. Throughout your entire life you have felt that there was so much schooling left. College was in the future and life altering decisions were few and far between. However, senior year is when you start to feel the pressure. But you also feel excitement. It’s sad ’cause you’re growing up. But when you wake up on the first day of senior year you will feel the excitement of a long chapter coming to a close. After this year you have the choice to do anything. Trade school, 4 year college or a gap year to travel, it’s all up to you.
There is a feeling shared throughout your peers that these are the last times all of you will be together. Every dance is the last one of that kind. Every quarter is one less quarter to go. And every day is one day closer to graduation. Some of your peers you have grown up with since kindergarten. Some you had only met this year. It doesn’t matter.
To all incoming seniors and future seniors, take it in. Enjoy every moment you have with the people you grew up with. College and post-high school life is imminent and you can’t avoid it. You will never be a high school student again. Growing up will never be a bad thing. Be grateful that you have the opportunity to grow up and experience post high school life, but don’t forget to enjoy the sweet senior moments while you have it. College admissions will be stressful, you will feel the heaviness on your plate and be overwhelmed by the important decisions ahead of you. But know that wherever you end up will be where you are meant to be. So don’t stress, take in your last year and revel in the fact that you’re a senior.
Sincerely,
Ava Hefferon, Class of 2024
