What High School Seniors Should Do Over the Holidays – Part 2

What to Do During Christmas Break for High School Seniors

As Christmas break approaches, most high school students are excited to be getting a break from grueling schedules filled with classwork, homework, sports, clubs, and other extracurricular activities. With just one more semester of high school left, senioritis is becoming a real battle for many seniors, making it more and more difficult to concentrate. The temptation to put things off runs high this time of the year for high school seniors. But there is still a great deal to be done before graduation day, and many things can (and should) be accomplished over Christmas break. Here are some ideas to help you navigate the holidays efficiently, while having some fun in the process.

Rest and Recuperate

Now more than ever, you need to take care of yourself. Eat well, get enough sleep, and exercise. You’ve accomplished a lot already, but you’ll need to be at your best in order to finish your senior year strong. If you’re feeling exhausted and overwhelmed, you won’t be at your best. So have fun during break but remember to do whatever is necessary to maintain and even improve your overall health.

Play

There is no better time than the holidays to spend time with family and friends. You can plan special events, outings, and activities—or simply enjoy each other’s company as you sit by the fire with your family or catch up with your friends. Engage in hobbies and activities that you enjoy and are important to you. Enjoy your time with loved ones but enjoy the time you have alone.

Volunteering for High School Seniors

Colleges love it when they see volunteer activities listed on an application. Not only is this impressive from the standpoint of helping others, but there is much to be gained personally from volunteering. The sense of purpose, community, and pride you will feel are among the many benefits of coming together to help those in need. Opportunities are everywhere—food pantries, shelters, hospitals, senior care centers, to name a few. Some groups may need extra help over the holidays. All you have to do is ask.

Shadow Someone at Work

Whether it’s a family member or other mentor, spending time at work with someone you know has great benefits. You can learn a lot in just a week or two, and the skills you develop can be used in the future. You can get an inside look at a career you might want to pursue and make contacts with influential people. A lot of businesses slow down over the holidays, so they are more open to hosting short-term interns, or simply allowing you to follow an employee throughout the day.

Apply for Scholarships

Now is the perfect time to look and start applying for scholarships. There is a lot of financial assistance available, but you have to do your research to see what’s out there. Find the sources that best fit you and your situation and let us know if we can be of any assistance at Moxie College Counseling. Some scholarships require essays, so let one of our essay specialists assist you if you need help.

 Refocus

Take some time to reflect on your past semester.  What did you do best? What could use improvement? What are some challenges you may face in the new year? Setting new, realistic goals requires reflection on what you’ve accomplished thus far. Be sure to do this before you head back to school in January, so you can set new goals be ready to go.

Set New Goals and Prioritize Them

Setting goals for the new year is important, but so is prioritizing those goals. What are your education goals? What is most important to you? Do you want to improve your grades or study habits? Do you need to set up a better distraction-free study space? Have you finished all of the work required for college applications? Your personal goals should also be a priority. Do you have any health goals? Is there a new activity or hobby that you want to try? Do you want to meet new people or spend more time with people you know? These are only a few questions you can ask yourself—there are many, many others. The point is that you should set meaningful goals and make every attempt to reach them.

New Opportunities for High School Seniors

While the Christmas holiday can be a hectic time for all of us, it also provides high school seniors and other students with new opportunities. Spending time with loved ones, doing small things to enhance a resume, and taking care of physical and mental health needs are just a few examples. Most importantly, this is a time to focus on gratitude, and to prepare for the new year. We at Moxie College Counseling wish you and your family the happiest of holidays. Here’s to being rested and ready to soar in 2024!