While we seniors are counting down the remaining days of school, the class of 2016 is looking forward to their last year at McNeil and already beginning to panic. The idea of the senior year is as terrifying as it is exciting.

Throughout high school, everything has built up to senior year. It’s when all of the important decisions have to be made. Forget “what class should I take” and “how am I going to get this homework done.” Now there’s “where will I go after high school,” “what do I want out of life,” “who am I going to be,” and “how on earth am I going to pay for this.”

I am sure, if you’re an upcoming senior, that reminding you of these questions isn’t helping your stress, but honestly, there is a lot of stress in senior year. At 18 or younger, we are making some huge decisions and those decisions are hard to make without some serious freaking out. I spent a lot of my senior year somewhere between complete panic and total exhaustion.

Accepting that this stress is going to happen is important, but more important is realizing that everyone else is going through this, too. I don’t mean that in a “get over yourself” way. I mean that, even though senior year is terrifying, having friends to complain and grumble about it with makes things a lot easier.

The other great thing about having friends is that they can help you get away from stress. Senior year can be extremely busy with college applications, homework, tests, and a job but it is really important to take some time to actually have fun. Don’t overload yourself so much with work that you don’t have time to enjoy senior year. Yes, school and work are important, but dealing with them is a lot more enjoyable when you’re not overstressed. Doing stuff with your friends includes school events. I would highly recommend taking the time to do those big overdramatized school events, like homecoming and prom. These things may sound silly or lame, but they add to the experience of senior year.

One thing juniors are stressed about is choosing a college. When deciding on a college visiting a couple of colleges makes a huge difference. This is what every counselor and website about the college search says, but it really is important. I was stressed about picking a college until I visited some and one was just perfect for me. If you can visit a college I would highly recommend it because it can really give you a better idea of where you want to go after high school. As to how you’re going to pay for it and if you’ll get accepted, the best you can do is do research and make your decisions wisely, the rest isn’t really up to you.

Don’t worry about who you are going to be yet either. If you’re going to college you don’t have to decide on your major yet, and if you aren’t you still have plenty of time to change your mind about what you want to do. You aren’t stuck with the decisions you make now for the rest of your life.

So, if you’re a junior, you’re almost there, you’re almost done. Of course, that’s pretty worrying too, senior year is your last chance to do all the things you wanted to do in high school and it’s your last year with all your high school buddies.

The best advice I have is: don’t waste it. Senior year is all that’s left of high school so try to remember to enjoy it because it really does go by crazy fast.