So many high school graduates finish with regrets about experiences they didn’t have or risks they didn’t take. If you’re entering your senior year, you may find some of that regret seeping in already. To avoid this feeling, many students draft senior year bucket lists to accomplish before they cross the graduation stage. Here’s not only why it’s beneficial to make one but also some ideas to get you started!
What is a bucket list?
For those who don’t know, a bucket list is a list of activities or goals you want to achieve before the conclusion of a certain chapter of your life, such as skydiving before your 30th birthday. Writing down your list in a visible location will act as a reminder to do as many things as you can. Making yourself a senior year bucket list gives you the opportunity to go on as many adventures as possible, creating so many memories that it’s impossible to feel regret. Push yourself to do things you’ve always wanted to do but either you were afraid or didn’t have the time. This is your chance to say, “Screw it!” to your inhibitions and just go for it. There is nothing worse than a missed opportunity, so don’t let it happen to you. One of the toughest things about a bucket list is getting started. Once you get those juices flowing, it comes so much easier. So here are some ideas to add to your senior year bucket list.
Related: 7 Things You Need to Do Before High School Graduation
Make travel plans
Traveling is so important to your personal growth—if you have the means to do it. There are so many options when it comes to traveling, so don’t think it’s not a possibility if you’re not wealthy. Some locations are more affordable than others.
- Road trip: Grab a couple of friends, hop in the car, and go somewhere for a long weekend. Visit a neighboring state, go to the beach, or drive without a destination. This is one of the best ways to really go out of your comfort zone because your zone has no limits.
- Leave the country: Make it a mission to see one other country if you can, even if it’s one right next door. If you live in the northern states, it’s surprisingly easy to pop over to Canada! Traveling is a terrific opportunity to see the little nuances that make up diverse cultures.
Set social goals
Sometimes, with the rush of school, it’s hard to find time to explore where you are and get to know new people. Before you leave your hometown for a few years take advantage of what it has to offer.
- Support local businesses: It’s amazing what can be found when you look for it. Look for interesting classes to take around town, such as glass blowing or yoga. Go on a shopping spree. Look for gems that have been hiding under your nose all this time.
- Volunteer: Your community has done so much for you. Try to look for ways to give back—there are countless! Libraries, food shelters, and retirement homes are always looking for a helping hand. Challenge yourself to break your routine and pursue a new selfless journey.
- Introduce yourself to new people: Oftentimes in high school, you’ll get thrown together with people and skip over first introductions. Go out of your way to learn how to introduce yourself to new people with confidence. You’ll make some new friends and pick up a great skill for college.
Related: Video: How to Make the Fall Semester of Senior Year Easier
Get to know yourself
While senior year is a lot about spending as much time as you can with friends, it’s important to not forget about taking care of yourself and nurturing your hobbies.
- Find your roots: There’s a magnitude of ways to approach this. You could search online to see where your ancestors are from, go to the first house you lived in and see the neighborhood, or visit family that you’ve never met and learn about a new side. Just find a deeper connection with your family before you grow more distant as an independent college student.
- Take yourself on a date: You’re going to work hard this year—why not treat yourself? Go see a movie and get dinner at a nice restaurant. It’s something everybody should try at least once, even if you’re nervous about it. Chances are that you’ll have a fun time and want to do it again!
Related: Real Student Wisdom for Your Last Year of High School
This is just a small taste of the kinds of things you might want to add to your senior year bucket list. So don’t limit yourself! Hopefully, you can take some time at the beginning of this crazy school year to set up a list for yourself and have fun on all your adventures.
Having the best year ever is easy with the right plans and advice! And you can get all of it in Our Best Advice for Senior Year of High School.
