Dear Seniors: Keep It Together by Swetha Shankar (A Junior)

Senior slump, senior slide, senioritis. Whatever you call it, the urge to slack off in your senior year of high school can be overwhelming. Now that the pressure of college admissions is off, it can be all too easy to lose direction and motivation, but with the finish line in sight, now is not the time to slow down!

Senior year can be an extremely productive and satisfying time if you approach it with the right attitude. Here are some tips to help you stay focused as your high school chapter draws to a close.

1. Remember that Grades Still Matter. Many students get into the mindset that once the acceptance letter comes in, they don’t need to worry about grades anymore; however, this is not true. Universities can still look at your final grades and can rescind their offer if they see a significant drop. Additionally, you still need to pass all of your classes to get your high school diploma at graduation.

2. Stop Bad Habits Before They Begin. Once you start slacking, it will be hard to stop. It will be especially hard to get back into the habit of studying once you stop. This will hit you hard at college since you are paying thousands of dollars for your classes.

3. Set Specific Goals For Yourself. The clearer your goals are, the easier it will be to maintain your motivation. Write down your goals for this trimester and be specific about how you're going to achieve them. For example: What grades do you want in each of your classes? Do you need a specific GPA to maintain a scholarship or financial aid? What skills do you want to improve on before heading off to college?

4. Take It One Day At A Time. It’s important to stay focused on the here and now. Use a day planner or calendar or create to-do lists to keep track of your responsibilities and break up large projects into manageable tasks. Concentrate on doing your homework, completing projects, and studying for tests. And after all that is done, go ahead and spend a little time fantasizing about your life as a college student.

5. Have some fun! After all, you’ve worked hard to get into college, and you deserve to treat yourself. Make sure to set aside some time to hang out with your friends, go to social events, and do other fun activities. Just don’t make the mistake of treating senior year as one big party.

Good luck to all of the seniors at Tech with their last trimester of high school!