“It’s a Whole New World” are our freshman, “Keep on Believing” are our Sophomores, “Let’s Get Down to Business” are our Juniors and “Hakuna Matata” are our Seniors. These Disney mottos describe each year of high school perfectly, right?

As Juniors are planning out what classes to take for their last year in high school, they question whether they want to make their senior year as easy as possible so they can just have fun, or if they should focus on heightening their GPA by retaking classes–whether that means having a full day or taking online classes to do so.

Student and teachers are all well aware of ‘senioritis’ and that it tends to hit most seniors towards the end of first semester leading into second. If juniors were to plan out their last year of high school so that they have extra free time by having a half day or taking an elective or two to add some fun to their schedule, those future seniors might not have too bad a case of senioritis. However, not all juniors are planning out their senior year like this. By filling up a schedule with all hard core classes because they want their GPA to go up or taking all AP/college level classes, they are more likely to have a major case of senioritis. Not fun!.

Juniors, there is a way to make sure your senior year isn’t all work and no play. It’s okay to be taking a large amount of AP/college level classes: just make sure you balance it out with an elective or don’t have a full day and get out of school early. Go to the sports games you never went to because you spent all your free time studying. Go to the school dances with a group of friends and have a party afterwards. Go to fine art concerts and support your classmates and see the talent that is all around that you have been too busy to see because you have constantly had your nose in a book, your eyes on your notes, and your mind thinking of nothing but school and homework.

Senior year should not be all work and no play. It’s just as important to socialize, get to know people, and experience life as it is to prepare for college. So, Juniors, as we start prepping for next year and thinking about our future, let’s not forget to make happy, fun, exciting memories. After all, you maynot be with the same group of friends again, and you don’t want to regret not spending more time with them, just having fun, verses only worrying about the future.