As I contemplate my first semester of senior year, I will never forget how many hours I have spent on college essays and how these essays have overtaken my spare hours for the past several months. Like my three prior high school years, I have maintained being active in extracurricular activities, such as math team, tutoring, or MSA. However, unlike my past three years, my senior year of high school has been very different. As a freshman, I was under the wrong impression that senior year must be the most accessible year ever. I thought incorrectly that senior year meant sleeping in and coming to school late, arriving late, and even leaving early or early dismissal. Moreover, I thought senior year meant having more free time to play video games and watch movies. 

Senior year is a vital year of high school because it is the year that bridges high school with college or future career tracks. Consequently, senior year adds the extra work of essay writing. Applying to numerous universities, I have written many essays, from my personal statement to discussions about philosophy, art, opinions, and what I might want to do when I graduate college. These essays meant senior year taught me how to become super organized with my tasks and time management. This year, I have impressed myself with what I can accomplish if I put my mind and heart into doing things. Senior year is also the academic link, so my classes are more challenging, as I am primarily taking all AP classes this year. 

For those transitioning to senior year, I recommend that you spend time summer before senior year visiting colleges and in senior year, make sure you sign up for college visits. I also recommend you get a head start on the essays and get your work done before the last minute to avoid unnecessary stress. I recommend that to succeed in senior year, be prepared and list what you want to do in high school. Join clubs you were unsure about joining and make new friends to complement your old friends. Be confident in your skin, and be you. Being a senior means you have made it this far and are almost at the finish line of high school. Enjoy every moment because you will be in your cap and gown soon. Manage time wisely to accomplish what you set out to do. In the summer, spend time before senior year visiting colleges, so you know where to apply. Take advantage of signing up for extra classes you always wanted to take if your schedule permits. Never give up on your aspirations because without goals or passion, there is no drive or motivation. 

Senior year with all the micromanaging and time management comes the excess pressure. I have learned how to manage stress better in the past six months. I have learned to study and relax more efficiently. To cope with the stress, I watched short movies and played video games with my friends. I know that it is vital to know how to destress because the stress in college, I am sure, is of more significant proportion compared to the pressure in high school. 

There are many lessons that I have learned this semester that I plan to carry on for the rest of the year and beyond. One of the critical lessons I learned is how to destress. The classes are not getting any easier, and I do not think college will be a walk in the park. By learning how to destress and take breaks, I can be more efficient in my work inside and outside the classroom. Another lesson I learned is that having a positive outlook in life is essential. I have come to appreciate the importance of having friends and working together in the classroom and outside activities. Through the friendships I have developed, I have recognized the importance of being immersed in a collegial environment because such an atmosphere maximizes what each person can accomplish. Moreover, I want to spend time with my friends before I graduate as much as possible because once we graduate, we may go to college in different states, making it challenging to meet. Also, I want to enjoy my last semester at North and savor every moment as it is etched in my memory-from the caring teachers to exciting activities. I also look forward to a senior night in the Spring. Naperville North has so much to offer, and I want to graduate knowing I have taken advantage of everything possible. I am proud to be a Huskie and hope to carry the legacy I have built upon at North.

There I was, on my first long car ride, 10 hours. The bumpy rides in my grandfather’s minivan did not make it any easier. But my parents borrowed his van so my brother and I could watch Disney movies on the small screen behind the front seats as we sat strapped in the back. I was 8, and my brother was 11 years old, we were on our way to visit my cousins in Branson, Missouri. I met my 3 cousins at family functions before this trip, but now I could visit their homes. My brother told me that there are so many fun things to do in Branson. As I looked outside my window, I could see the landscape change from the flat roads of Illinois to the stacked rocks of the rocky roads of Missouri. I could see the various colors of the sediments in the rocks, stacked on top of each, with the road cutting through these mountains. Entering Branson, I saw small shops and signs of various shows being advertised. My parents drove up a steep hill and stopped in front of a large white and red home; I made it. My cousins, Amin, Sameerah, and Saminah, ran out to greet my brother and me. We jumped out of the car, and I ran straight inside, excited to begin my adventure.

It began with a large arcade with bumper cars and video games. I enjoyed the go-carts, and my favorite game was MarioCart, and I was Mario. After playing games, we ate cheese pizza, and I mixed various soda flavors to make a unique soda drink. Next was indoor golf, and we went upstairs to a large, darker room to play minigolf. There I played indoor golf until I made it to the last hole. An arcade is full of plenty of activities.

Next, we headed to the butterfly museum, a large butterfly sanctuary or palace. Their butterflies landed on my hands and shoulders. So many brilliant colors filled the room. My brother attracted plenty of butterflies on his shoulders. Then we went upstairs to watch a movie on butterflies, a scientific film. Moving out of the small theater room, we walked into a gift store. I bought a butterfly pen as a souvenir.

As we returned to my cousins’ home, we planned an exciting dinner at the Dolly Parton Dixie Chicks show. It was 6 pm, and we headed towards a large stadium where we sat to watch the show below, the Dixie Chicks. Eating chicken and bread, I felt like I was in the Roman Empire in the Colosseum as I cheered for my team, the North. The place was split into 2 groups, North versus South, and below there were horse races, pig races, and fencing on horses by knights in armor. In the end, my group won, but Dolly Parton showed up on the big screen and emphasized that it did not matter if we were Team North or Team South because we were the United States of America at the end of the day. 

When we got home, I slept well, exhausted from the exciting day, and worth the long car ride. My aunt’s cat Sophia purred as she sat next to my bed. I told my cousins they were lucky to live in such a fun place. But they reassured me that this was not the daily case and that they were going places to entertain us, this is not their routine.

The next day we spent at an amusement park called Silver Dollar City. I went on roller coaster rides, played games to win small prizes, and ate cotton candy. It reminded me of Great America. My favorite ride was the Ferris wheel, as I could visualize the entire park at the peak of the wheel. I sat with my brother as we went a few times in circles until it was time to step out. I enjoyed the snow cone, my favorite flavor of lime. After running around in the park, we headed back home to take a break and get ready for dinner at Red Lobster. 

Every day we did things, and the next day we went to a Magic show. Branson is a fun place to visit, and there is plenty to do. The 4 days I spent there went by fast. As I headed home, I thanked my cousins for a wonderful trip and promised them I would take them sightseeing and visit all the fun places in Chicago and Naperville.