With the 2018 school year coming to a close, us seniors have had plenty of time to reminisce about our four years at St. Dominic. Along with the cherished memories of friends and classmates, there are bound to be a few regrets, especially regarding the craziness of senior year requirements.

College may not be at the forefront of your mind, and that’s okay. It is not something to stress about if you are a freshman or sophomore. However, if you are a junior, listen up. Even if you have had your dream school picked out since you were old enough to read its name on your dad’s old fraternity sweatshirt, you should visit a variety of colleges. Visiting different campuses helps you figure out what kind of size, location and overall vibe you are looking for in your future home away from home. Plus, it is a great way to do some fun travelling and get your parents involved in the college making decision. You never know, your dream school may not be what you envisioned.

On the topic of college visiting, another very important task will be applying to colleges. You should apply to any and every college that peaked your interest over the course of your college visits. It is always a good thing to have backups and sometimes universities will compete and match awards from each other. You also get the satisfaction of claiming your place, or places, on the senior brag board outside of Mrs. Darla Strecker’s office.

Mrs. Strecker is an invaluable tool at your disposal. She is a literal fountain of information and is always looking for ways to improve your chances of securing a spot at your dream college and finding a couple extra scholarship opportunities to really sweeten the deal. Stop by and visit Mrs. Strecker, because not only will she be sending your final transcripts, she is also renowned for writing glowing letters of recommendation.

When Mrs. Strecker has undoubtedly found you several scholarship opportunities, do not wait until the very last minute to write them. They may seem monotonous and easy to give generic answers to, but they should really mean something to you and scholarship committees will be able to feel the sincerity in your writing. Always give teachers, coaches and other figures plenty of time to write letters of recommendation. They won’t want to be assigned an essay the night before its due any more than you would.

Branching away from college talk, another graduation impacting task is to make sure every single one of your one-hundred service hours has been recorded and turned in. Senior privilege is a glorious program and working off those last extra hours during summer will be worth it come next school year. Even if you don’t make the deadline for senior privilege, being invited to graduate should be more than enough motivation to jump off the couch and embrace our call as Catholics to service.

People like Mrs. Strecker and the rest of the teachers at St. Dominic who have done everything to help prepare us for our next steps are sometimes taken for granted, as is the opportunity to live out our faith. Be thankful for every prayer delivered over the intercom, for every school mass held in our own gymnasium, and for the yearly retreats where we are allowed to bond further as a Catholic community.

As you approach your own senior year, think back on the blessings St. Dominic has given you. For this year’s juniors, senior year is looming ahead and this summer is the perfect time for you to get ahead of the customary stress and give yourselves the opportunity to live in the present and be hopeful for the future. Following this simple checklist will definitely put you ahead of the curve and jumpstart your final year as a St. Dominic Crusader.