The senior year experience

It is what every senior looks forward to since becoming a freshman: leaving.

Since freshman year in high school, many students strive to be the best with perfect grades and excellent extracurriculars so that they can take the next step to college. While many students believe that you have to work hard for the first three years but then get to drop everything for the notorious senioritis, this is far from the case.

Senior year is even more stressful with college decisions, applications and standardized tests.

Vivek Ekkirala, senior at Urbana, says, “It is nothing like I expected. I thought senior year was full of fun and laid back experiences, but it is turning out to be super stressful.”

Some students have been preparing their entire high school career for this one opportunity to better themselves in college for their future.

“Honestly, I did everything I could’ve to be put in the best position now. I started preparing for college the summer going into my freshman year which allowed me to be more prepared than others in my graduating class,” says senior Jacob Welbes.

Other than just academics, many students in high school strive to pursue extracurriculars in college such as theater, volunteerism and athletics. More often than not, students playing high school sports strive for scholarships and offers to play in college. It is very stressful for the students put in that position to find a balance between academics and athletics along with other factors that influence them.

“I always wanted to play baseball in college and now I am in that position. It is like a dream come true but all the schools sound great. While I would like to go to all the schools, the hardest part is picking one,” said Welbes.

Though the high school process is stressful, in the end it is worth it. Hoisting a diploma in the air and taking the next step to whatever they decide to pursue whether college, the military or workforce.

“It was the happiest moment of my life being able to see my family smiling and hugging my friends. It was fun sharing the experience with people that I have grown so close to and would not trade it for anything,” said Abhi Patel, freshman at UIC.