A senior's work is never done

AP courses, SUPA classes, extra-curricular activities, sports and a part- time job, need I say more? You can’t imagine what the schedule of a high school senior is like. With worries about college around the corner, saving money and keeping up with school work, it’s hard to imagine how we get through a single day.

The majority of you probably remember your senior year as being the best year of your life. The senior pranks, trips and, most importantly, the prom are all wonderful memories, but all of the fun stuff is at the end of the year. The beginning of the year, however, is referred to by most of my peers as “pure torture.”

As a senior, the most important thing is to have a job. That summer job has come and gone, and now it’s time to look for another one. Since most seniors have to save for senior dues -- the prom, graduation and more -- with even a little competition it’s nearly impossible to find a job. Around that time, we also get our driver’s licenses, so we’re going to want a car as well.

In addition to looking for work, school still is a factor. Just because we have to work doesn’t mean we can slack off on our studies. And if you’re a student who has decided to take the SAT’s again, then there’s some extra studying that musts be done.

Many seniors have the added pressure of extra- curricular school activities. As seniors we have to stay committed to any clubs or organizations that we are involved in.

But we can’t forget college is around the corner, and I can attest that the majority of the work that you have to hand you do alone. Don’t get me wrong, guidance counselor’s help in the process, but they’re only here to guide us. Truthfully, seniors should have already sent in the majority of their college applications by December. Unfortunately, others may still be looking for teacher recommendations or working on their college essay’s, which places them far behind. Some may still have to worry about retaking their ACTs and/or SATs.

So let’s sum up a little. From 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. we’re in school, from 3 to 4 p.m., depending on the day, we’re most likely at a club meeting, from 4 to 6 p.m. we’re involved in a sport, and from 6 to 9 p.m. we’re most likely at work. Can you say “crazy”?

And after that long hard day we’re ready to go to sleep, right. Wrong, we still have homework to finish, studying to get done, and a college essay to perfect. The day of a senior never ends --well, at least until graduation, where we can toss our caps and get ready for the summer before college. And then it’s a whole new ball game

Laura Durandis is a student at Long Beach High School. Comments about her column? JKellard@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 213.