Sen-ior-i-tis. - A strong attitude that is very contagious and very hard to get rid of. It comes in two forms. (Maybe more, but who can really tell?)The main one is the laziness not to do the work nor go to classes. This hurts your GPA and your college chances later on. The other is the big-man-on-campus notion, which can be just as bad. This one is distinguished by a swollen head and feeling of superiority.

Usually, easy classes and very little work characterize a student’s perfect senior year. We seem to forget the college application, financial aid planning, homework, increased social involvement, more responsibilities, that part time job, church, youth group, and many more things. Throw in a little procrastination (a.k.a. senioritis) and your senior year becomes a crazy blur.

My senior year was chaotic to say at the very least. From before the sun woke to midnight, I was constantly in motion. Every minute of my day was generally planned at least a week ahead, although not by choice but rather that was just how quick it filled up. I had a rigorous academic load and a part time job. I was the president of the youth group while attending two churches in total. I was trying to get into my choice college. It was crazy. I was running on empty. I got through it because God carried me through.

Senior year also brings many changes. Did anyone notice I put a period at the end of an article title? Was it on purpose? Yes. It’s not an exclamation, it’s not just a title, it’s a statement within a title to convey meaning. (If that doesn’t sound like English class I don’t know what does.) What does it mean? I’m content. I’m content with my surrounding, my friends, my old classes (well mainly art and design classes) and my job. Don’t get me wrong, I’m absolutely thrilled about going off to college in the fall (go UCF Knights!), but I am content in the state of no change. I am just not a fan of uncertainty and change. Many times change has been good rather than a negative.  But, I’mstubborn.  I don’t know what God has in store for me once I leave my hometown and go “out into the world.” But your senior year marks one of the biggest changes you will ever go through- from parents house to completely on your own in college.

Looking back on it all, I wish I had seized the moment and done many things. I wish I could have spent more time with my friends before we all graduated. I knew I would not see many of these awesome people much after I graduated but it just didn’t seem to sink in. I wish I would have put more effort into my work- in my art and academics. I had no time to really do homework so I did it all at school.  Most of all I could have spent more time with God and relied on Him more than myself. I didn’t witness enough to my friends nor did I make enough time for Him, as I should have. My time with God was basically a devotion in the morning and then a church service once a week. Yeah I prayed often, but not all of it seemed heartfelt. I could have had a more Christ-filled, joyful senior year if I had only spent more time in Him and less in me.

Now I look ahead. With graduation behind and freshman year at UCF just a month away, I will try to retain what I wish I had done in my senior year and do it differently.

And know this: senior year can be awesome if you let it. My advice for all? Get good classes- not too easy but not too hard. Have fun.  Make the most of every moment to make memories while you still can. Take a lot of pictures, have adventures, go to the school functions, and participate in a senior prank (but don’t get caught)! Don’t drown in books or classes or work. Work hard but retain your youth.

But above all, stay strong in Christ. I cannot emphasize it enough. God carries us through the craziest of times. He is always there even when we are absent. In uncertainty, doubt, and fear, He is there. If God makes time for us, shouldn’t we make time for him?

 

 

Jenny Ashby loves old cars and Humphrey Bogart. Learn more about Jenny and see what else she has written here.

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