How to optimize your “Senior Szn”
I still remember the weeks leading up to my senior year where my thoughts could be summed up into two categories:
Nerves: I know all these people… right? But what if things have changed? Will it be awkward? Will I still feel like I belong? Am I going to mess things up?
Excitement: It’s my last year! I finally get to experience seniority perks and can get out of here soon! Time to make it count.
Whether you're a new student entering a brand-new school for your final year, or returning with hopes of making this your best year yet, there’s something about Grade 12 that makes you either underthink or overthink everything. As someone who just graduated high school, I want to be honest and tell you: it might not be that Highschool Musical experience you pictured when you were a kid… but you have the power to shape these last 10 months.
This year will have its fair share of unexpected highs and maybe some unavoidable lows. So my biggest piece of advice? Optimize your “Senior Szn.”
You're entering one of the busiest chapters of your life so far—and one of the most meaningful.
Think about it:
Last first days & last days
Making sure your grad photos are family mantle and postcard worthy
Post-secondary planning and applying
Grad retreats and senior trips
Ending high school sports careers with a bang
Taking on leadership roles like Student Government or Grad Commitee
Maybe holding down part-time jobs while you’re at it
Promposals and school dances
And yeah… those never-ending assignments and exams that wake up your hungry senioritis. It’s a lot. But instead of just pushing through, lean in.
Attend all of those grade events.
Senior sunsets, grade-wide bonding (my class did laser tag and trampoline parks!) and more. Don’t be afraid to start something if your grad class hasn’t planned anything yet too!
Talk to people you wouldn’t usually talk to.
This is the last time in your life you’ll be surrounded by this many people your age every single day. Don’t let the chance to connect pass you by. You’d be surprised what kinds of friendships and memories can form in just a few months.
Join the club, try the sport, run for student committees.
You’ve thought about it—now’s the time to do it. You won’t regret giving something a shot. Here’s a fun story: If you have ever thought about making a club for your hobby, go for it. There was this fishing club at my school that was very well received by the student body and took people on crazy adventures.
And my personal favorite? Capture it all.
One of the best things I did in Grade 12 was pick up a digital camera. Before my senior year, I became interested in photography and ended up saving for my first “real” camera—my Canon R100. But for senior year specifically, I went on Facebook Marketplace and bought an old Sony Cybershot DSC-T30 (literally from before I was born lol).
Something about using a digital cam—less polished, less “perfect,” and definitely less attached to social media—made the memories feel more real. I brought it everywhere: school events, class breaks, retreats, you name it. Everyone wanted copies of the photos, and honestly? It was so worth it. But if digi cams aren’t your style, polaroids and film cameras are some other fun options that really embrace “no-retakes”.
I also made little vlogs just for myself. I didn’t post them, didn’t over-edit them—just short clips from my days of me and my friends, all filmed on my digi cam. I highly recommend doing this. Even if you never show anyone, in the future-you will thank yourself for the time capsule.
So here’s your reminder: don’t just survive senior year—embrace it.
Be intentional. Be present. Say yes. Try new things. And capture the chaos, the laughs, the weird little moments. You only get to live this chapter once, so make it count.
Senior szn? Optimized. 🎓✨
Katie Lam
JOMO Student Intern
