It’s the final stretch. Senior year. This is the time when many students decide to take their foot off the gas, lighten their workloads and coast to graduation. The notorious “senior slump” has settled in for most of my peers. They’ve dropped their seventh-period classes, skipped club meetings and mastered the art of doing just enough to stay afloat until the summer. 

I think somewhere along the lines, I missed the memo. 

At the start of the year, I assumed I’d follow the typical trajectory. Maybe take it easy, enjoy the freedom of fewer responsibilities and embrace the slower pace. But as the months passed, I realized that slowing down didn’t bring me the same satisfaction it did for others. While my friends dropped their seventh-period classes, I kept mine, and while some opted out of clubs, I leaned in harder.

Since then, I stayed engaged in the clubs I love because it’s not about overloading myself or proving anything; I’ve genuinely found some sense of enjoyment from being busy. For example, I stayed committed to the newspaper, competed in various academic competitions like the Houston Area Academic WorldQuest and remained active in dance.

As lieutenant of a student-led dance team, I spent much of my time navigating the dynamics of our team. At night, I juggled homework with choreographing new routines and researching new funding methods. I found my desire to win only fueled my motivation, and as an officer we helped foster a productive team environment. 

I think my desire to stay busy, has something to do with growing up in three different places. Throughout the week, I stayed with my grandparents, mom and dad unpacking and repacking my bags laboriously. When my parents separated, my life changed dramatically. It was both the smaller things like having various rooms, and the bigger things like navigating through the appropriate volumes of each home. It’s like since my home life has always been so busy, I’m used to my schedule being busy too.

There’s a thrill in chasing deadlines for class assignments, the satisfaction of preparing for competitions and the joy of moving to the rhythm of music. I don’t feel trapped in my obligations, instead I am fulfilled by them. My schedule, though packed, isn’t draining. It’s energizing. Each commitment I’ve kept has made my senior year feel vibrant, because I know they have shaped me and my high school journey. 

That’s not to say I don’t sometimes fall into senior slump. After years of AP classes, extracurriculars and college applications, the exhaustion is always tempting to give into.  However, I’ve found my balance. And I fear that changing things might inhibit my ability to find my balance again. 

Everyone has a different way of making the most of senior year. For some, that means slowing down. But for me, joy doesn’t come from not doing the things I love to do, it comes from pushing forward and embracing the things that have made me, me. 

The way I see it, I want to squeeze out every bit of opportunity before stepping into college. So while others embrace their well-earned relaxation, I’ll continue being authentically myself and making the most of the activities I love. This way, I’ll be able to accept it when the time comes to move on.