QuickTake:

A Eugene mother who has seen three children graduate from high school — and has one more walking across the stage in 2027 — offers some wisdom and advice.

Dear seniors,

Happy last first day of school! Senior year can pack such a punch. As you look toward the future, there is no easing into September and no gentle entry into all the upcoming deadlines. 

You are also straddling that strange chasm between childhood and adulthood. It can be disorienting as you feel tugged in two directions. That is completely normal. 

I know. The last thing you want is advice from another mom. But hear me out! I’ve graduated three seniors, and I’ve got another one this year. Which is to say, I’ve been around the block on this one. So here’s my advice for your last year of high school:

  1. A good day begins the night before. Organize your backpack. Check your schedule and make a to-do list. This type of preparation will serve you for your entire life.
  2. I know you’ve heard it before, but here’s a gentle reminder that the internet and your phone will still be there in the morning. Turn them off and go to bed.
  3. Start the habit of taking a digital Sabbath, even if it’s just for a few hours. Use a chunk of your time on the weekend to read a book, play the guitar, hang out with friends and get outside. This recharge will help give you stamina for the upcoming week.
  4. A good week begins on Sunday. Spend some time on that day to review big assignments and deadlines. Charge your laptop. Do your laundry. Answer those emails and texts you’ve been putting off.
  5. Eat real food. You may think that this has nothing to do with school, but it’s hard to feel your best if you’re not properly feeding your body.
  6. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Teachers, parents, coaches and school counselors are ready to offer assistance. There is power and wisdom in knowing when to reach out.   
  7. Widen your circle. Senior year is a great time to get to know as many people as possible, and let the cliques of previous years begin to dissolve. Be the friend that elevates and encourages others.
  8. Don’t burn yourself out. You have your whole life ahead of you, and high school is not the end of your learning or social experience. Try to pace yourself.
  9. That being said, you should start your college applications … yesterday.
  10. Your SAT score and where you attend college seem all-important right now. But I promise you that a year from now, no one is going to ask about your test scores, and in about seven years, no one is going to care where you went to college. Keep that in perspective.
  11. Remember that your parents are not unreasonable. Their admonitions might sound like nails on a chalkboard (yeah, it was that way for me, too), but they want what’s best for you. Give them the benefit of the doubt.
  12. AI is awesome. Use it as a tool to enhance your learning. Don’t let it do your learning for you. Wrestling with an opening paragraph of an essay or challenging math is what helps you grow.
  13. Do the assigned readings. Yes, even the long books. Twenty years from now, even if you didn’t like them, you’ll still be thinking about “The Great Gatsby” and “Their Eyes Were Watching God.”
  14. Also, you really should go to sleep. Right now. Please.
  15. Teachers are people, too. They are, in fact, awesome people. Don’t forget to show up on time, listen when they speak and thank them for the hours they put in to help you learn.
  16. You don’t have to decide now what you want to do with the rest of your life. You just have to make the next decision.
  17. There is a big, beautiful world that exists outside of your phone. Don’t forget to live in it.
  18. Don’t lose your hope for the future, even when the adults around you are wringing their hands. These are unprecedented times, but every era has seen unprecedented times. Look for the good and embrace it.
  19. Remember that senior year is the victory lap, the culmination of every good thing you’ve set out to do for the past 12 years. Try to enjoy every curve of the track, the surge of adrenaline and the joy of the home stretch. You have the wind at your back and a whole crowd of people cheering you on.

You’ve got this!

Tiffany

Tiffany Gee Lewis is a freelance journalist and writer of children's books. She lives with her family in an old pink house in Eugene. Follow her Substack, The Art of the Extraordinary, or reach out to her at tiffanyelewis@gmail.com.