Senior year is a wild mix of stressing over finals, figuring out who you actually are, and trying to enjoy those last few “firsts”. To help the future class prepare for the school year, here is some real-talk advice from the current and past seniors!
It’s crucial to talk to a wide range of high school seniors to gain diverse perspectives on future paths.
Maya Thorn graduated from Westminster High School in 2021. One thing Thorn wishes she knew before starting high school was that it’s okay to be at a certain pace. She says, “You don’t have to do everything right away. I thought I had to join everything freshman year, and it just burned me out.” Thorn feels that she should have paced herself instead of trying to participate in every activity immediately to avoid burnout. Within the school year handling academics it can come to be very stressful. How Thorn managed academic stress, “I started writing everything down like assignments, deadlines, and even small tasks. Seeing it all organized, I learned to take breaks, it made it more manageable.” Thorn keeps her cool by writing everything down and scheduling breaks, which helps her stay on top of things without feeling overwhelmed.
Now hearing from a current high school senior at Northglenn High School, Jordan Milligan. Before starting high school, Milligan wished he knew that some teachers do really care. He said, “It’s okay to ask teachers for help early. I used to wait until I was already confused, which just made things harder.” Milligan pointed out how asking teachers for help will actually give you a better advantage than waiting until the last minute. Milligan also has a certain way of handling his academic stress and management. “I broke work into smaller chunks and focused on one thing at a time. Also, stepping away from my phone for a bit actually helped more than I expected.” Milligan feels that keeping things simple is the way to go. He realized that breaking work into small pieces and limited phone time made managing his stress surprisingly easier than he expected.
Commenting on handling relationships in high school, senior Aaliyah Chavez, from Vantage Point, states she wished she knew that relationships will change over time. “That not everyone will stay in your life forever, and that’s normal. Some friendships change, and that doesn’t mean it wasn’t worth it.” She feels at peace with the fact that people naturally drift apart, realizing that even temporary friendships were still a valuable part of school. Seeming to be a very social person Chavez deals with her academics the same “Talking things out helped me a lot. Whether it was friends, teachers, or writing in a journal, getting my thoughts out made the stress feel less heavy.” Chavez approaches her academics with a social and reflective mindset, using open communication and personal journaling as essential tools to manage stress and process her workload.
Also, having a Horizon High School student contributes to the picture. Lyla Waufle is a current high school senior here at Horizon. Waufle wished she knew before getting into high school that, “Those grades matter, but they’re not everything. I stressed way too much over one bad test instead of looking at the bigger picture”. Waufle is more lenient on the academic pressure, realizing she wasted too much energy stressing over single tests when she should have just focused on the big picture. Waufle is a very sport involved student. So a lot of her ways to manage are to stay active, like saying, “Staying active helped, like practices, workouts, even walks. It cleared my head. I also learned that asking for extensions or help was a good thing.” Waufle manages her high school stress by keeping her body moving, whether it’s at practice or just going for a walk. She’s also learned that it’s totally okay to ask for help.
High school seniors advise managing stress and growth by pacing yourself, staying organized, and asking for help early. They emphasize that balance is key: breaking down tasks and prioritizing mental health through exercise or communication to prevent burnout. Ultimately, they remind students that grades don’t define you and maintaining a healthy perspective is essential for a fulfilling high school experience.
Senior reflections offer vital guidance for navigating high school’s highs and lows. Their insights reassure students that growth and success stem from maintaining balance, supporting peers, and embracing the learning process.
