[I've gotten to know Journey-Mei Masters over the past few months, and she is amazing. She's been serving with me at AMPD and does a fantastic job relating with the students. As a recent graduate of Canterbury High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Journey has some very timely and relevant advice on how high school seniors can make the best out of their last year in high school. Enjoy!]
Senior Year can be one of the best years. Actually, I think personally for me, it was my best year that’s happend to me. I gained new friendships, found a new love for Christ and grew a lot not only in my faith but my character. I’m no expert on senior year’s but here are my top 5 ways that made my senior year the best it could be.
- Don’t be afraid to meet new friends: Start getting to know others, even if they are completely different than you. Don’t be afraid to mingle with those who drink or smoke, you could learn a lot from them and they could learn a lot from you.
- Enjoy the present because the future will be here before you know it: From day one of senior year I was counting down the days of graduating and finally being out of the little “bubble” I was used to. By the time I graduated all I can think about is being in that bubble again. Leaving and saying goodbyes are one of the toughest things. Enjoy the little moments of senior year, take in everything and don’t take one single day with your friends and school for granted.
- Be a good example to the underclassmen: Everyone hates being that freshman that you have to carry the bags for the upperclassmen. Be the one upperclassmen who also volunteers carrying the bags. People look up to you, whether you realize it or not the underclassmen really look up to the upperclassmen. Be the person you want them to become as they step into your shoes.
- Don’t slack: Senior year grades at least for the first semester matter, so don’t slack. Keep working hard, even if you’re already in college, college’s really look at the grades especially for scholarship, so keep working hard. It will be worth it in the long run.
- Let Go, Let God: Once senior year hits we are either in two spectrums of college life: 1) we know what we’re going to study 2) we have no clue what we’ll study. This is the part where we can just let go and let God. God has the plans for us like Jeremiah 29:11 says, in His timing, we will figure out what we are meant to do and who we were meant to be.
God really planned something special in my life this past senior year. I gained new relationships and ended some old ones, as tough as it was, it was worth it. Senior year was a year of complete growth spiritually and characteristically. One thing I want to challenge you is if you’re willing to give up something so that God can show you something better in the long run? Are you willing to get stripped of everything so that there could be more for you from God?
