Senior Year's Stressors

 It's currently the holiday season. Everyone is supposed to be having fun decorating their house, spending time with family, and enjoying a nice cup of hot chocolate on a chilly morning (except if you are in Florida). The reality for me, though, is quite different than the relaxing and carefree mentality that this supposed holiday season attempts to paint. Currently, I feel rushed by college applications, a plan for my upcoming birthday, a crush that I want to confess to very soon, attempting to get my driver's license soon, and not surprisingly: school grades.

College applications are kind of self-explanatory. I mean, it's a universal feeling that every senior experiences--unless they don't plan to go to a post-secondary institution. A lot of prospective students aim for the big leagues, while some struggle to put forth a decent application with bad grades, no extracurriculars, etc. I've already submitted most of my applications, especially to A&M and UT Austin, but I have yet to be accepted to them. I also haven't had the opportunity to apply for my backups: UH, UTD, and UTSA. I also haven't applied to much scholarship opportunities yet. It's really important that I get them done because I can't go to any college without them.

My birthday is also coming up on December 29. I don't know who to invite. I don't know where to host it. I don't know what to do, even. My family and I are tight on money too. If I want to go to Japan over the summer, I should probably be considerate of my family's expenses on me. Thirdly, there's this one person in particular that I've had a crush on for at least 5-6 months now. I like them so much, but I don't know if they would reciprocate that feeling back. As best friends, I feel heavily inclined to be honest and truthful to them. I just don't know how, though. I don't want to mess things up. On a less sad note, I'm also stressed about getting my driver's license. Every single one, or it seems like it, around me already drives and I don't. It's making me feel really out of place. My plan is to wait until I turn 18, so I don't have to wait 6 months to get my license after receiving my permit.

Before graduation, I need to finish school strong by doing well in all my classes by earning good grades. I've already been granted the freedom to drop AP Physics C, the hardest course I have ever taken throughout my high school career. This massive, tremendous, satisfying, and relieving achievement will finally remove a ton of load off my shoulders. Additionally, I will be getting my 7th period replaced with an off-campus period! I can finally leave school early to go home or to hang out with a lot of my friends who don't have a 7th period. Right now, though, Calculus is the biggest academic obstacle. I just failed a quiz an hour before writing this blog entry, but at least I wasn't alone. In addition to checking off academics from my list of things-to-do before graduation, I need to order a session to have my yearbook picture taken and I need to order my graduation cap and gown. One MAJOR thing I absolutely want to check off is to order a yearbook and have every single friend and teacher I know sign it. It would be a delicate piece I would cherish as I grow older.

Overall, these examples have shown that my mind is loaded with a lot of stressors. Growing up is a scary thought that I can't easily avoid. Hopefully I'll manage to pull through, check off all the items I need to do, and end senior year without any regrets.