It seems like it was just yesterday that the school year started, our minds and eyes filled with the childlike wonder of a new benchmark period for education. We vowed that this year we will get all A’s on tests and hit the volleyball in gym class as we meandered our way from class to class. But all of that is over now. The leaves on the trees are as barren as our hearts after a half of year full of stress, sadness, and a heavy workload.
January doesn’t just bring us a new lunar year; it also brings us the inevitable question of “What am I going to do with my life?” Yes, you heard that right. At the time of this writing, seniors are applying to college, juniors are preparing to visit campuses, sophomores are making their mark at school and freshmen are still trying to get used to this crazy world that we call young adulthood.
Although looking forward to our futures is crucial to do at this time of year, we can also use this winter season to have fun and to make memories that will last forever. In honor of 2017, here are 17 things to do before you wear your cap and gown and officially enter the real world.
#1- Get Up Early And Watch The Sunrise
Your world may not officially start until noon when you finally crawl out of bed, but not for everyone else. Cars are driving on the streets when it’s pitch black out and animals are waking up out of their burrows to start their day. So join them. Whether solo or with friends, head up to a high elevation point in your town, grab your phones, and take photos of the rising sun to share on Instagram. Not only will you have a awesome landscape picture that doesn’t need filters, but you’ll have a better day because you can appreciate all that life has to offer.
#2- Go On A Road Trip With Your Family
For the past 8 years of your life, a visit to your grandma in Florida is a ritual of your summer vacation travels. But there’s only so many hugs, kisses, and cookies to endure. This year, skip your relatives and head on a road trip to any region in your state or country. You get to see national landmarks and may even discover some new favorite diners along the way. The gas may run out or you may be stuck in traffic, but at least you’ll be with your family, which is all that matters.
#3- Try On Something You Know You’ll Never Wear-Just To Prove You Can
Never liked the texture of jogger pants or the look of chokers? Next time while you’re at the mall, go into that store that you expressed your hatred for and secretly love. Find a piece that speaks to you and go into the fitting room to experiment your look. Who knows? You might even buy it and reinvent your style completely. You’ll never know until you try.
#4- Read A Classic Novel For Fun
The best novels are only about shirtless werewolves or popular celebrities, right ? Think again. A novel that you may have read in school could become your new literary obsession after only a new page. Complex characters such as Scout Finch or Jay Gatsby can inspire you to face any difficult situations going on in your life. Plus, you can get required reading out of the way so that when the time comes to read it for English class, you can be doing something more productive such as working on homework or writing that paper. Can you say awesome?
#5- Binge On An Entire TV Series
You may have homework and sports practice to attend, but who says there’s no time for Netflix? In the midst of all that crazy, pop some popcorn, grab a blanket, and become immersed in the adventures of Lorelai and Rory or Sam and Dean. Their one-liners are on par and they may be teaching you life lessons you may not even realize. Laziness achieved.
#6- Start A Business…
Or any other corporation. Know how to make to-die-for friendship bracelets? Or have the strength to rake leaves constantly? Create professional business cards, post some flyers around town, and let the job begin. You may be getting some sweet cash in the process while you understand what it means to give back to the community.
#7- Try An Extreme Sport
Always wanted to go white-water rafting or bungee jumping, but never have the time? Free up your calendar one weekend and go chase whatever you’ve been after. Many programs in your state or town have classes or events where you can learn the skills needed to hit the waters and the cliffs at ease. It may be scary standing at the edge of a rock or a waterfall, but the thrill of it all will make for some awesome memories down the road when it comes for story-sharing.
#8- Go To A Concert You’ve Been Dying To Attend
This just in: Drake and Selena are on tour…. And they’re coming to a concert venue near you. Before you freak out, book those tickets and be prepared to have the adventure of a lifetime. Sing along to the hottest songs, score some cool merch, and try to get a selfie with the artist that you’re seeing. The happiest fan that you’ve ever seen just may be you for one night.
#9- Take A Break From Social Media For A Day
Your Snapchat streaks and Twitter retweets are at an all-time high, and you just can’t bear to part with your phone. It may be hard, but sometimes a break is worth it. Your eyes won’t be sore from all that screen staring and you may notice how your dog’s fur changes two colors in the winter. A 140 character post or a sweet Story is nothing compared to the real life right around you.
#10- Show Off Some School Spirit
You may be annoyed out of your mind as cheerleaders tumble across the mats at assemblies, but paint those black streaks on your face and wear those school colors at the next pep rally. You will feel more united to your school than ever before, and getting to yell into a megaphone at the top of your lungs might be the best feeling ever.
#11- Eat At A Foreign Restaurant
The thought of eating something other than pizza scares you. Not to mention, the restaurant bill is at an all-time high. The cheesy goodness might be amazing, but so will your taste buds when they twirl some lo-mein or munch on a falafel at a foreign cuisine place near you. The aromatic spices and the special sauces will reign you in and may make you forget about bread, cheese, and toppings for a little while…or ever.
#12- Form A Pen-Pal Relationship With A Student In Another Country
Conjugations, presentations, and projects are enough to make Spanish class feel as pointless as the language itself. But you need this class to graduate. So, what to do? Enter in pen pals. The age-old custom of putting pen-to-paper will improve your language and may even make you a new friend. Ask your teacher or guidance counselor if you can set up a conversation with a student from the country you are studying and let life take you from there. They may not always answer back, but having a friend who can give you advice and school you on another culture can make you feel jet-setted without ever leaving the house.
#13- Have A Game-Night Marathon
Scrabble and Monopoly are calling your name. Answer them back by challenging your friends and family to a round of word-spelling or bank loaning. Wear your comfy PJs and open the boxes to a night full of excitement and friendly competition. You may not win at all, but at least you sharpened your skills for the next time. It’s on.
#14- Ace A Final
You’ve spent a whole year struggling to make sense of chemistry terms and formulas. Finals are coming up, and you really want to pass with flying colors. But it will take you a day to really understand everything. How are you going to handle it all? Say so-long to slacking and cramming and study for the exam in little chunks. Review notes in your head, ask a friend to quiz you on vocabulary, and watch a video explaining how chemical reactions occur. Keep doing this until test day and you may just see a big fat “A” on your paper in no time.
#15- Sit At A Different Lunch Table Every Day
Wednesdays are your favorite day because right after a boring hour of Civics, your best friend from the volleyball team and a whole tray of cafeteria pizza are waiting for you in the lunchroom. And so is every other day because you never venture out from the small round table near the window. So the next time the opportunity arises, make like a 90’s teen comedy and sit with people you never thought you would sit with. They may have a completely different style from you or be interested in different things, but they may share the same love of Mac Miller or adorable dog videos on YouTube. You don’t have to ditch your original crew for your new friends, but keep in touch with both of them and maybe invite all of them to sit together. The more the merrier is always the way to go.
#16- Make A Post-High School Plan
Still stumped on where you want to go to college or what you want to do with your life? The time is now to start thinking about the future ahead while you still live in the moment. You don’t have to apply to anywhere or fully make a decision. Just list down some things you’re passionate about and let the planning take from there. Still confused? Ask a guidance counselor for help or if you need any other support. It will be good in the long run.
#17- Participate In A Theater Production
Your school or community is putting on a production of The Sound of Music, but you’re really scared of going onstage. Make like Nike and just do it because the thrill and process of putting on a show is enough to make it a full-fledged career. There are many tasks to do, whether its costume design, tech crew, or student manager, that are just as important as the actors on stage. Feel like you’re ready to twirl on a mountaintop or sing about a lonely goatherd? Audition for the leader or another character that you’re really interested and accept whatever the director gives you for a part. As long as you get to hear the lyrics “The hills are alive” you’ll be fine until you say so long, farewell.
