Take a trip down memory lane to your first day of high school – whether you rode the bus or had your cool, older sister drive you to school, you were probably mentally planning the next four years of your life. Maybe you didn’t write them down like Britney Spears did in Crossroads, but you were creating a high school bucket list. In your mind, you would be the Homecoming Queen, lead Student Council meetings every week, oh, and date the captain of the lacrosse team. As your four years of high school come to a close (can you believe you’re already heading off to college?), your goals are hopeless, right? Absolutely not! With a few months until graduation, there are so many things on your high school bucket list that you can still accomplish. As always, we’re here to give you the low-down on how to make the most out of the rest of your senior year.
1. Bond with Your Favorite Teacher
No, we’re not condoning an Ezra and Aria type of relationship, Pretty Little Liars fans. Take this time to get to know a teacher that you respect in an appropriate way. “It’s a nice way of combining a role model and a friend,” says Catherine Sourbis, a sophomore at Tufts University who befriended her high school English teacher. Instead of maintaining your Pinterest boards during your free periods, stop into their classroom for a quick visit when they’re not teaching a class. Start the conversation by asking your teacher about their college experience. Not only is it a great way to break the ice, it’s also cool to hear about teachers when they were collegiettes. Just because you’re leaving high school doesn’t mean that you have to leave your favorite teacher behind. Email her once in awhile to keep her updated on what you’re up to.
2. Take a Road Trip
Before you graduate, have your first rush of freedom by planning a road trip. What could be more liberating than you and the road? Since traveling across the country is a little time-consuming, plan a weekend getaway for you and some of your girlfriends. Give your excursion that road trip feel by jamming out to mix CDs and posing with quirky landmarks along the way.
3. Befriend the Quiet Kid in Your Homeroom
While you and your friends can barely stop talking during the ever-so-pointless homeroom period, you may notice that there’s one person who quietly sits by him or herself. Before you graduate, embrace your inner social butterfly and strike up a conversation with the quiet kid in your homeroom. “It’s almost a universal truth that the quiet kids are some of the most interesting people once you get to know them,” says Kristen Pye, a sophomore at McGill University and HC Contributing Writer. There’s no downside to checking this off your bucket list: you’ll be broadening your social horizons, practicing getting to know someone new just in time for college, and possibly making someone’s day! Start off the conversation by asking him or her what school they’re going to next fall or cut to the chase and include him or her in your friends’ conversation. If you’re genuinely interested in the conversation and they’re receptive to your social gestures, you’ll have a new friend in no time!
4. Give Your Mental Health the TLC it Deserves
Whether you’re daring enough to skip a whole day of school a la Ferris Bueller or are looking for a way to relax after school, you’re in desperate need of a little R&R after worrying about college for most of the year. Get a few friends together and hit the beach or get lost in a strange, new town. Not only will this give you a much-needed break from high school, you’ll also create great memories with your friends. Just don’t make this a habit: let’s not forget that Ferris Bueller almost doesn’t graduate from high school!
5. Say Goodbye to High School Drama
Whether it was a childhood friendship that faded or a girl who claims you stole her boyfriend (three months after they broke up), you probably have one girl at school who you’re happy to say goodbye to. But before you say goodbye and good riddance, clear the air with this (fr)enemy. Do you really want a high school grudge weighing you down? We didn’t think so. Tell her – via Facebook, text, or even in person – that you’d love to end high school on good terms. But as any pre-collegiette knows, actions speak louder than words. Whether it’s liking her “I’ve decided what school I’m going to” status or inviting her to your graduation party, the key to crossing this act off your bucket list is making a conscious effort to stay true to your word. Even if your enemy shoots you down, you get major kudos for being the bigger person.
6. Show Off Your High School Pride (Before It’s Too Late)
Sure, you go to the annual homecoming dance and participate in spirit week, but besides that, you’re not very school-spirited. Before you have to trade in your school mascot for another one, show off your school spirit with pride! “It’s fun to see so much school spirit,” says Erica Avesian, a junior at University of Michigan and HC Contributing Writer. “The seniors at my high school go all out and decorate t-shirts with fun sayings and memories from our high school experience.” To show some spirit, cheer for your lacrosse team at semifinals or see if there’s anything you can do to help with prom. Since a lot of colleges are super spirited, consider this practice before you pack your bags and head off to school.
[pagebreak]
7. Talk to Your School’s Golden Boy
Whether he’s the convivial captain of the basketball team or that brilliant artist who also plays the drums, every school has that one boy who every pre-collegiette wants to date and every guy wants to be. Alas, many girls are too afraid to approach the unattainable creature. Well, take a deep breath because talking to him is a must before you graduate. Talking to him can be as easy as Facebook chatting him with a “question” about your Spanish homework. Not Facebook friends with him? Send that friend request ASAP! What if he’s not in any of your classes? When you pass him in the hallway, be sure to make eye contact when you see him. Oh, and don’t forget to smile! When the timing’s right, strike up a conversation with him. What should you talk to him about? Anything… within reason! Just don’t forget to be yourself. Even if this conversation doesn’t kick-start the summer romance that you’re mentally planning, you’ll be feeling fearless and unstoppable. Once you chat up the school-wide crush, approaching those college cuties will seem like no big deal.
8. Wear Something Crazy to School
Although no pre-collegiette wants to be that girl with the horrific outfit, you must admit it’d be fun to wear something totally crazy to school. Get a bunch of your friends together and a plan a crazy theme for a designated day. Not only will it be super funny, you’ll also be preparing for all the themed parties college has to offer. Do us a favor: don’t pull a Mean Girls and wear pink on Wednesdays. It’s time to get creative!
9. Snag an Amazing Prom Date…
While most girls stress out over the date factor, and some even refuse to go without one, here’s the honest truth: it’s only important to go with someone you’ll have a good time with. You could have the cutest prom date, but it won’t be fun if he’s not going to slow dance with you. If you have a guy in mind who you think you’d have fun with, start talking to him more. Better yet, ask him yourself! After all, you are a 21st century pre-collegiette. However, don’t feel obligated to bring the cutest boy to prom. Instead of dragging a boring date to prom, Emma Squire, a sophomore at Vanderbilt University, went to prom with one of her best girl friends. “Because I went with my friend, I could enjoy myself and know she was having fun too,” says Emma. As cheesy as it sounds, pictures will fade (or be wiped off of your laptop), but memories with last forever.
10. …And Plan an Even Cooler After-Prom!
Since what feels like the beginning of time – or when Laguna Beach started – we’ve been exposed to swanky proms and even cooler after-prom parties. Spend the next few weeks planning an after-prom celebration you’ll never forget. Although you may have a dream after-prom party in mind, it may not work with your friends’ budgets. When planning your party, make sure to keep a couple things in mind:
- Location: Do you want to host the party at your house? A friend’s place? A nearby vacation spot?
- Transportation: If you’re not willing to rent the party bus again, how will you and your friends get to the party?
- Guest List: Would you and your friends rather have an intimate celebration or a huge after prom bash?
- Cost: Everyone has different price ranges, so make sure to plan an extravaganza that everyone can afford.
- Parents’ Approval: You could be planning the sickest party ever, but it’ll never happen if your parents don’t give the green light.
Also, don’t forget to be persistent. “It took quite a lot of planning and organization,” says Hannah Mezan, a sophomore at Tulane University who organized an after-prom extravaganza for her and her friends. “It was especially difficult finding a vacation house owner that would rent to that many teenagers, but it is possible and it was well worth it!” Whether you’re at an extravagant getaway or hanging in your best friend’s basement, remember that your after-prom is only as good as the friends you’re with and the memories you create.
12. Pull Off a Harmless Prank
Sometimes, there’s nothing like a good prank to lighten up the mood. As long as your prank is harmless and legal, plan away! For a simple and funny prank, clog a bathroom sink and let a goldfish swim around in there. Whether it’s a grade-wide operation or a plot among you and your friends, you’ll go down in high school history.
13. Tell Your Crush How You Really Feel
Ladies be warned: this task is only for the bravest pre-collegiettes. It’s only natural to start developing feelings for one of your closest guy friends – you enjoy his company and can tell him anything. Or perhaps your crush is your lab partner whose charm and Bunsen burner skills are out of this world. Although hiding your feelings until the end of time sounds tempting, it’s time to (wo)man up and tell him how you really feel! If you’re friends with your crush, tell him however you see fit. Just make sure to stress that your feelings won’t change your friendship. If you’re not that close with your crush, start talking to him more and suggest that just the two of you hang out. You never know: saying how you feel could result in a steamy summer romance!
What happens if your high school bucket list wasn’t as successful as you had hoped? Freak out? Absolutely not! Your bucket list should act as a guideline to ending your high school career on a fun and fearless note. Whether you’ve checked off every task or “accomplished” nothing, just remember to make sure that you’re having fun. Besides, there’s always the college bucket list!