Q: I am a second-semester senior, and I don’t do homework. I can’t make myself do it. I don’t think I can do any ever again. Please advise.

Congratulations on making it to second semester! You made it! Despite the papers, tests and supplemental essays, you pushed through and succeeded. You should be very proud of yourself.

However, second semester brings a new host of challenges. This time will move so fast with graduation events, college decisions, spring break and end-of-year activities. While it may seem easy to dismiss all of your school work and put minimal effort into each class, you need to continue studying hard.

You have pushed yourself so hard through your first seven semesters of Upper School. Why not just do it again for the eighth? You want your final transcript to reflect the entirety of your high school success and not have it ruined by your last semester at Hockaday.

I’m not saying that you have to put in the exact same amount of effort as you did in the first semester. After all, you won’t have any more college applications. You can let go a little bit without completely shirking your responsibilities. Choose to fill your newfound free time with things that bring you joy.

Go to a watch party for “The Bachelor” every Monday. Support your friends at their sports games. Try out a new coffee shop. Visit everywhere in Dallas you wanted to go but never had the chance. Adopt a new hobby, or serve the community. Whatever you do, have fun because you are only a second-semester high school senior once.

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By Kate Woodhouse

Photo by Eugene Seong