By: Demarcus Simmons

Senior year of high school is one of the most exciting yet challenging times in a student’s life. Senior year comes with opportunities to grow, and prep you for life after graduation. On the other hand, seniors can face difficult obstacles that can get in the way of graduating. This year I know I will face challenges, such as staying motivated while balancing a job, and managing stress that comes from preparing for life after high school. These obstacles may seem challenging at times, but I plan to overcome them with these steps: having better time management, staying focused on my long term goals, and reminding myself life is more than high school.

One of my biggest challenges I expect to face is maintaining good grades while working a job. Working at a Chipotle or any job teaches responsibility and gives independence, but it also takes away important time that could be used to catch up on school work. On days when I close late, and when I get home I sometimes push off assignments or rush through them. To overcome this, I can do a few things. Using the planner function in my calendar app on my phone can help me stay organized and make sure I leave time to catch up on other school work before I prioritize anything else. I can also use my study hall, lunch breaks, advisory, or classes I’m already passing to catch up on other classes. By planning my time carefully, I can succeed in both work and school without letting one take away from the other.

Another major challenge I constantly face is staying motivated throughout the whole school year, especially when senioritis begins to set in. It’s very easy for me to get distracted or lose my focus due to graduation being so far yet so close, and when stress from future decisions is on my mind, it makes it harder for me to stay motivated. However, I know staying motivated earlier in the year will have a direct impact on my future, and graduation. To counter this challenge, I will arrange one-on-one time with my teachers to have more insight on work I need help with. By doing this it’ll help me graduate on time, and help me be able to ask for help when needed. Even on days when I feel unmotivated, I can set small goals for myself, like finishing one assignment at a time to keep me motivated, and moving forward.

Senior year will come with both excitement and challenges that we sooner or later will face. Balancing your school life with a job and overcoming stress and senioritis will not be an easy obstacle, but I believe the plan I’ve set in place will help me handle it with good time management, self discipline, positive influences, and determination. If I stay focused on my goals, and stay dedicated to my plans I will not only graduate senior year, but also finish it with pride. These challenges are nothing other than a test for the real world; they prepare me for the responsibilities of adulthood and the next chapter of my life.