Senior year of high school is a time of excitement and anticipation, but for many students, it is also a time of stress, stress and more stress. Balancing college applications, academic pressures and personal expectations can feel overwhelming, turning what should be a celebratory year into a marathon of challenges.   

As Charlotte Gregor enters her senior year, she faces the struggle of preparing for college while leaving behind her friends and family. 

 “Something I am not prepared for is leaving all the people I love most behind,” she shared, reflecting on her support system. Mackenzie Burke Wilson, another senior here at Omaha South, added, “I’m not prepared for graduating and leaving home.”  

With a busy schedule that includes three sports – cross country, swimming and track – along with clubs like National Honor Society, the pressure can be overwhelming. “It all sometimes causes me stress,” Gregor admitted.  

To manage it all, Gregor said she makes time for herself. “How I balance everything is prioritizing time for myself to relax and have fun.” She enjoys breaks with friends and attending sporting events. While Gregor acknowledged that she’ll miss her friends and the fun times they had, she remains optimistic, adding, “I am super excited for the future and especially college.” Unlike Gregor, Burke isn’t excited about graduation. “I’m nervous about leaving my family and friends behind,” she admitted. 

 “The things that stress me out the most are managing all my homework and volleyball,” Burke said. 

In addition to her schoolwork, Burke also balances a part-time job and social time with friends and said she finds it difficult to manage it all. “I really have no time to manage everything,” she added. To cope with the overwhelming pressure, “Something I do to help me not struggle is cry,” Burke said. 

But despite all the pressures, these seniors are ready and willing to face the excitement and anxiety of life after high school.