Written by Christine Stornelli, Student Journalist, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Secondary School
With a new year comes new and exciting opportunities, especially for Grade 12 students. The final year of high school can be both exciting and nerve-racking as we prepare for a new chapter in our lives. Whether our plans are to pursue a post secondary education, take a victory lap, or dive right into the workforce, preparation for the next chapter of our adolescent lives is starting now. Despite the fact that the graduating class of 2021 will look quite different from years past, there are still many things we can do to make the most of our final months as high school students, while still keeping our safety a number one priority.
Although we won't be taking graduation or prom photos, an equally fun alternative is to find a way to take them yourself. It is as simple as ordering a cap and gown online and taking your photos anywhere you would like! By taking the photos yourself with your own cap and gown, you can retake the photos as many times as you wish, change locations, and you don't have to worry about getting in contact with people who aren't in your household. As for the prom photos, instead of completely missing out on a senior prom, buy the suit or dress you have always wanted and have your own prom with your family or social bubble when lockdown restrictions lift! Making your own prom party might be just as fun as one you would have had at school because you get to choose the date, theme, food, etc.
If you are going away for post secondary education this year, you’ll quickly realize that once you submit your applications, the wait is the most stressful part. To keep your mind off the stress of applications, you can do something fun like plan out what you want your dorm room to look like. Online shopping means you can get all of your dorm/apartment essentials without having to step foot outside your house. Whether schools return to in-person learning next year or not, you won’t regret planning out your dream dorm life, especially if it momentarily took your mind off of everything else going on around you.
Another thing you can do to make the most of your “final teenage year” is take some time to simply have fun. Last year, when we went into our first lockdown, everyone was getting creative by doing art, music, baking, and essentially making the most of the time they had at home. Nearly a year later, as we go into another lockdown, if we continue to have that same mindset, we can make this year memorable, not miserable. After school work is done, go skating or tobogganing, binge watch your favourite tv show or cook something you’ve always wanted to try. Do what makes you happy - that’s what is going to help get you through what might be one of the toughest years of your childhood.
Author Johana de Silentio said, “
Relax. You will become an adult. You will figure out your career. You will find someone who loves you. You have a whole lifetime; time takes time. The only way to fail at life is to abstain.” Sometimes we may find ourselves so focused on our university applications or responses from employers that we forget that our childhood isn’t over yet. With everything going on in the world right now, on top of trying to figure out what we are going to do with the rest of our lives, it helps to take a step back and realize that we are only kids still. We need to worry less about school and job applications, and focus more on caring for our own happiness and mental well-being. Remember to “relax” and “take your time” because “the only way to fail at life is to abstain.”