Do you ever feel that feeling of fear and excitement combined in the pit of your stomach as you inch closer to the top of the rollercoaster? You are electrified with exhilaration and panic. You have been waiting for this moment since your freshmen year. People have always said to you that the four years in high school go by fast, but you don’t believe them until you’re at the finish line. Once you cross the finish line, you feel relieved, but no one talks about the last one hundred meters. Senior year is not all fun and games. Most people think they are done, but there is still the final push left to go and to me, personally, the final push is stressful yet I’m eager to reach the top of the rollercoaster and finish the race.

         As I start my senior year, I can not comprehend that I am actually a senior. I have waited for this year for so long and now that it is here, I’m speechless. I can feel my dreams radiating heat as I get closer to reaching them. I still have a long way to go, but I can feel its warmth and see the light from a distance. Also, I can finally do all the senior traditions I’ve seen seniors before me do. I never understood the point of waking up at 5:00 AM to see the sunrise on the first day or why the seniors would stay up all night to TP the school in the morning of Homecoming, but once I took part in these activities, I realized why. This was my last year of high school. The last time I will get to do something memorable with my best friends and my classmates. A tradition that honors our final year. Even though there were some people I never talked to in my grade, I felt a connection with everyone. We basically grew up together. As much as I wanted to say goodbye to high school, I started appreciating it more my last year. In my years in high school, I was always rushing for time to go by faster, but now I want it to slow down a bit. I want to take everything in because I know this is a once in a lifetime experience. 

        Now don’t get my wrong. I am thrilled to see what awaits for me in college, but I know very well that I’m going to miss high school. However, the process of applying to colleges has put some stress on me. I tend to procrastinate. A lot. In fact, I’m procrastinating on my college application process. Honestly, I think I’m just too scared to make a decision. A decision that lays out my future. I constantly think “what if I choose the wrong college?” or “what if I don’t like it there?” and these “what if” questions go on and on in my head. As much as I want to start my life in college, the process is overwhelming and stressful. I have heard stories of people regretting the college they ended up going to or switching their majors, but I came to the conclusion that that’s what college is all about. You learn what you want to do in life and what fits you. Mistakes happen all the time. It is inevitable, but it’s what you learn from those mistakes that really matter. For example, I wish I tried harder in my freshmen and sophomore year in high school, but now I know this and I will pass it on to the younger kids so that they can learn from my mistakes. Also, I now know that everything in the past will catch up to you. Therefore, I will try harder when I start my life in college. 

       To conclude, what I learned is that those people who say they miss high school aren’t lying to you. Before you know it, you are going to be one of those people saying the same exact thing to another high schooler so cherish your time in high school. Also, to other seniors who are nervous about the whole college process, ignore the “what if” questions and keep moving forward. It will all work out in the end.