Senior year is an exciting year. It’s filled with bittersweet emotions, applying to colleges, the last homecoming dance, the last prom. It’s all so scary yet exhilarating. Finding your direction is difficult, but by learning from others it can be a lot easier.   

Step 1.

• Research schools, sign up for scholarships, and visit the college and career center here at school. By researching the schools you want to go to, you’ll be more familiar with the campus and the student life. You want to find a school you really jive with. Signing up for scholarships is one of the smartest things you can do; college is expensive and by applying to as many scholarships as possible, you’re more likely to get at least one to help you pay for school. The College and Career Center here at Rocky is designed to help juniors and seniors on their journey.

Step 2.

• Find your direction and keep your mind open. Going to college might not be your thing, so get a job and live in the real world for a while, experience life. Travel if you want, but don’t be lazy, as you have so much to experience and live for.

Step 3.

• Stay close to your family and friends. When it’s your time to graduate, your family may feel like they are going to lose you forever, so spend time with them. Include them in everything you are going to do after you graduate, don’t let relationships fade away, as they may be the only thing to keep you sane in times of need.

Step 4

• Line up jobs, have a steady income. Whether you are going to school in state or not, it’s best to line up jobs before you start college, that way you can have money when school starts to buy anything your parents, financial aid, or scholarships aren’t paying for. Having a job while in college will be tough, but it will teach you many life skills.

Step 5

• Have fun! This is your time to live life to its fullest. Date people, get work experience, make as many friends as possible! Enjoy it!