Senior year of high school is all about enjoyment. Seniors have the most events planned throughout the school year, including much-anticipated, senior-exclusive events that we have been waiting for four years. We are preparing for college while relishing our final year in high school. Between jobs, sports, school, and social life, a senior’s schedule can get very hectic, though you won’t hear this from everybody. A way to limit the stress and increase the fun is by taking a light class load for your final year.

My junior year was demanding with three AP classes and calculus. I learned my lesson from that awful experience to go easy on myself for this year. It has paid off, as I have found myself with copious time on my hands, sometimes with nothing to do. I take only one AP class and four electives. My time balance is ten times better than it was last year.

For seniors playing sports, they know the time that sports take up is unexplainable, especially varsity sports. As a junior, I found myself with little time to do all my homework, often times saving my homework to do the next day during school. Flash forward a year, and my light senior schedule leaves me with almost no homework each day. If I do get homework, it takes less than 20 minutes to complete. When my sports seasons come around, I will be able to focus my time on the sport and not worry about finishing work on time.

There are some seniors who argue that it is important to take a lot of hard classes in their last year. Connie Nguyen, for example, takes four AP classes this semester. “I sometimes regret it because I don’t have as much free time as my other friends,” Nguyen explains, “but I know it will be worth my efforts if I get college credit.”

Another thing that comes with being a senior is driving. If you don’t drive, chances are you have at least one friend who does drive- meaning freedom. Driving opens up unlimited possibilities and opportunities to go out and socialize. My parents always make sure my homework is finished before I am allowed to go out, but thanks to my easy schedule, my homework, if any, is always finished by the time I want to go out. My social life has flourished since my schoolwork has retracted.

Time is the biggest thing seniors want. We want time to do everything, and we want to feel as little stress as possible doing those things. It’s our turn to enjoy high school and not kill ourselves like we have been the past three years. Take an easy schedule your senior year. The benefits do not disappoint.