I have re-written and re-thought about all the ways I can write this Senior Reflection, and here I am writing it the night before it’s due. I have been waiting for this moment ever since freshman year, when I was freshly 15, sitting in my journalism class with a bunch of seniors, and listening about what they’ll be writing about. Now, I’m here. I knew this day would eventually come, but I didn’t think I would feel like this. In a time where I thought everything would be figured out, I have never felt more unstable. Although I have a rough sketch of what my future will look like, there is so much uncertainty of what’s to come. And that’s ok.

I have always been a planner and had my agenda set. I knew exactly what my days  consisted of weeks in advance: Harbinger meeting on Monday, Steering on Tuesday, DECA on Wednesday, Create for Kids on Friday and on top of that honor society meetings ranging from business to English every other week. The genuine satisfaction when I cross things off my to-do list is a feeling that is unreplicable. I know what you’re thinking. I can practically hear you say, “She’s got it all figured out,” and while I think organization is a great skill to have, don’t be like me. For most of high school, I thought being successful meant filling every empty space in my schedule. But, here’s my two cents: you don’t have to jam pack your schedule with every possible extracurricular you can think of, you don’t take every AP offered (unless you truly enjoy the class) and you don’t BS your way to a leadership position just to have that on your resume.

Do something you’re truly passionate about. Join one club that you are genuinely interested in. Write that email to that one business owner. Do some actual research (without asking ChatGPT) about different service opportunities or internships. Put yourself out there in the real world with your head held high. You will learn so much more from these experiences  than you will ever learn from your math class (sorry math department).

Lastly, just relax. Take a deep breath. It’s not that deep. Put your packet down. Close your computer. Walk outside with your mom. Go and get ice cream with your friends. Have that sleepover on a school night. Be a little rebel. This is the last time you’re a kid, living under your parents’ roof, living life without much worry. So, don’t be the worrier when you don’t have to be. I spent so much time worrying about building the perfect future that I almost forgot to enjoy the version of life I was already living.