Letter to Self — Senioritis is Overrated

Dear 17 year-old high school senior self,

Stop being such a chump. And stop whining. Senior year’s about to start, and I think you should know a few things. You’re going to spend this year cavorting like a madwoman with a bunch of crazy Russians, partying, ditching school and lamenting about your ex boyfriend. But these things do not define you. These things do not last. These things will not follow and shape you the way other things will, the way tutoring geometry students will teach you patience, the way writing your senior thesis on morality will teach you about yourself, the way applying to music schools will show you that you’re not meant to be a musician. Don’t take these experiences lightly. They will shape your college career.

First off, you really, really will get over your ex. Soon. It won’t even take the entire summer before college for you to forget about him, and you will feel a freedom you never had before. No one at college will know about your past, and starting over will teach you the things that you don’t have to repeat, as well as those you’re bound to repeat. You’re so lucky that you won’t go to college with strings attached. If only you’d let it go sooner.

Second, follow your gut before applying for colleges. Don’t even consider music schools. Don’t even print out their applications. You know you don’t really want to major in music, you know you’re just trying to pick something, and you know that you’ll be miserable trying to stretch out a 13-year pastime that has run its course. You just want to prove to everyone that you have a plan. Well guess what? No one has a plan at this age. If they do, it’s either not really what they want to do, something their parents imposed on them, or an idea akin to a Jump to Conclusions doormat.

And while you’re at it, apply for some freaking scholarships. Sure, you had some rough times and missed a few months of school, but don’t let that define your entire high school experience. Don’t think your sob story will get you into NYU. It won’t. In fact, it will probably make them blacklist you. Learn to recognize the positive things you did and highlight those, rather than feigning some “overcoming adversity” story which you know is more angsty than inspirational. Did you know that if you would have applied to at least five scholarships during college application season that you probably would have won thousands and thousands of dollars? Simply for having decent grades, a ton of volunteer work you didn’t think counted, and some high school counselors willing to write some really nice things about you? Take those opportunities. Little do you know that it will take you another couple years to fully embrace your academic potential. You will wish you would have started earlier.

Third, SIGN UP FOR CREATIVE WRITING SENIOR YEAR. Do not take Ceramics 1. You will kick yourself-oh how you will kick yourself-for not doing this. You will become a writer by profession very soon, and you will decide to major in creative writing. Ignoring the opportunities at your high school will make you feel like you need to play catch-up as you begin to dip into your passion for writing. You will miss out. And check out the school newspaper while you’re at it. You will regret not being able to say, “I wrote for my high school newspaper.”

You know, let your senioritis run its course. It’s good for you, in a way. But watch out for those relationships you’re letting weaken. The people you’re ditching class to hang out with will not remain your friends. In fact, you will never see most of them ever again. The friends you’re ignoring are lifelong friends, and you should cherish this last year of childhood with them. They will be your friends throughout college, after college, and then during college again, when you return for grad school.

All in all, you’ve not done too bad for yourself. But you’re making things hard on yourself by complaining all the time, obsessing over defining your goals, and “hating school.” Little do you know that you will eventually become an expert on school. You will love school so much that you will begin writing satire pieces about education just to stop being such a square about it. Imagine that.

Oh, one more thing. A minuses do not count the same as regular As in college. Whoever told you that was wrong, and you’re going to spend your sophomore, junior and senior years wishing you’d known that.

Sincerely,

Your 24 year-old grad student self

P.S. Eat some vegetables.

This letter was written as part of the BetterGrads special series: “Write a Letter to Your High School Self.” Contributors are asked to answer questions or concerns they may have had in high school, such as “What’s the purpose of college?” and “Is it worth it?” If you’d like to submit a letter for publication, please read our editorial guidelines and let us know here.