Take the classes YOU want to take

As the second semester rolls around, you’ll probably feel tempted to load up on free bells, take the bare minimum number of classes, and start catching a little senioritis. I get it. But in all seriousness, I would strongly advise you to look through the course catalog and take a class that sounds interesting or that is taught by a teacher you like. For me, that class was ceramics. I’ve never been an artistic person (just ask Mr. Vance, he’ll back me up), but I enjoyed taking his general art class, and have really appreciated getting to learn ceramics, something I probably won’t have the chance to do in the future. “I chose to take Nazi Germany because I was genuinely interested in the class,” senior Ryan Brackett said. “Of course I could have taken a free block instead, but I would have missed out on an opportunity to learn.” There are so many classes that are offered at Seven Hills, and second semester senior year is really the only time that you can choose to add whatever electives you want due to your interests. Senior Henry Stimson regretted having so many free blocks in his schedule. He said, “I frequently found myself rotting away in the senior lounge.”

Don’t sweat the college decision too much

You may hear your peers describe the college decision as “the most important decision you will make in your life.” Spoiler: it’s not. Picking a spouse, buying a house, choosing a career, are all way bigger decisions you’ll have to make in life. College is important, yes, but it’s only four years. I’d be lying if I said I stressed over my decision to attend Seven Hills for the past four years, and yet, here I am, writing this. “There can be beauty in the uncertain, and you just have to take a leap of faith,” senior Quincy Morris said. “You won’t know if you made the right choice until you are actually there, and sometimes even later than that.” Everyone will end up where they are meant to be. More important than the university name on your sweatshirt is the type of person you are, and the things you’ll do once you’re there.

Engage in the community

One of the biggest things I realized during senior year is how much being a part of the Seven Hills community actually matters. It’s easy to spend high school just sticking with your close friends and doing your own thing, but when you actually show up — to varsity games, to club events, to Stinger Day activities — you see that you are a part of something bigger than yourself. “Seven Hills is just way more fun when you’re a part of stuff,” senior Landen Langhammer said. “Showing up, even during my senior year, helped me find the best parts of our community. The more I put in, the more I got out.” Even as a senior, it is not too late to get involved with a club you are interested in. You don’t have to take a leadership role or be the loudest person in the room. Sometimes it’s just about showing up and caring. Those little moments of engagement start to add up, and they make Seven Hills feel like more than just a place you have to go every day until you finally graduate. It starts to feel like your place.

Create memories

Senior year flies by so much faster than you expect. You only get one chance to live it, so don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Say yes to things you might normally pass on, hang out with friends even when you’re tired, and take way too many pictures, even of the little things, because those small moments will mean a lot later. It’s easy to get caught up in everything that’s stressful about senior year, but at the end of the day, you won’t remember every application and test. What you will remember is the stupid videos you recorded with friends after practice, the casual afternoons, and even the random spirit days — no matter how cheesy they were. “Some of my favorite memories from senior year come from moments I could never have expected,” senior Billy Good said. “Trust me, the memories you make in the most random and unexpected situations are the ones you’ll hold onto forever.” It may feel endless while you are in it, but time will fly and you can never go back. You only get to do this once, so be sure to make it count