Some goodbye’s are overrated. I am perfectly fine saying goodbye to these hallways but not so much the people walking in them. If you’re willing to stay friends and make an effort, goodbye’s aren’t permanent.

Here’s some actual advice and not just something along the lines of “be yourself.”

-While it’s OK to stress about school work, high school isn’t everything. High school only takes up four years of our lives. Try not to isolate yourself, instead, keep yourself busy with friends, family and school events.

-Take dual credit. If I could go back in time, I would take advantage of all the dual credit courses that were available to me. If you’re like me, I took mostly all AP classes because of the boost, but in the end, I slacked off way too much for those painful exams. Get all of the “weed” out courses you’re going to take in college out of the way to save so much money and time.

-Do not slack off in pre-cal. I repeat, do not slack off in pre-cal. Don’t get me wrong, some people can manage getting an A, but I was way off of the spectrum. Although I studied a lot for it, I admit, I did slack off and take naps when I didn’t need to. Pre-cal was a turning point because it was the first time I didn’t get an A in a class, and after that, I gave up the rest of junior and senior year. So my advice here is, take regular pre-cal.

-If you need a schedule change, figure it out during the summer and go to orientation early to be the first in line. Whether it’s changing to a more laid-back teacher (which is 100 percent worth it) or rearranging your classes completely, figure all of it out early.

-Join clubs you are actually interested in, not just for college applications.

-Balancing a sport and academics is difficult so only join if you are completely committed.

-I highly recommend first or fourth off (both is not possible). It is much better than wasting a period in a class you don’t have to take, especially when you can be doing other things.

-Seniors, do not wait until the last minute to do college applications. Do them as soon as possible so you can relax when everyone else complains about how much they have to do when there is barely any time left.

-Don’t waste your time with country-wide scholarships because they are way too competitive; it’s like trying to win the jackpot. Apply for local scholarships that actually  give you a higher chance of winning.

To my close friends: Thank you for laughing at my stupid jokes, keeping me entertained and putting up with me. I will try my absolute best to stay in contact once in awhile.

Goodbye, Lewisville High School.