I’ve spent nearly two months trying to come up with the perfect balance of witty, sappy, and smart for this goodbye post. But, as I often do, I left it to the last possible second (think: 11 p.m. the night before graduation). And while I spent about ten minutes chastising myself for doing exactly what I always do, I had a realization. Every time I found myself scrambling to finish a project, working late to submit a paper by 11:59 p.m., or cramming for a test, it wasn’t because I was being lazy. I wasn’t binge-watching TV shows or doom scrolling on TikTok (okay, maybe a little). It was just that I was doing something else—something that mattered to me, even if I didn’t fully realize it at the time.
Whether it was tending to my pet fish (they’re very needy creatures), diving into a new book, or having a meaningful conversation with my family, I was often distracted by what felt important in the moment. And here’s the thing: it wasn’t actually procrastination. At least, not in the way I always thought.
For a long time, I viewed procrastination as a character flaw, something I needed to fix. I tried to “beat” it, force it out of my habits. I spent hours stressing, losing sleep, worrying about assignments, deadlines, and all the things I hadn’t done yet. And yes, it took a toll on my mental and physical health. But here’s the paradox: even when I was stressed and falling behind, I still got the work done. I passed my tests. I jury-rigged projects together last-minute and turned in my homework (at least, most of the time).
You’re probably wondering what my point is, waiting for the advice that we wise seniors supposedly have to offer. So although I wouldn’t recommend listening to people on the internet, here it is:
Forget about the deadlines.
It sounds like terrible advice, but hear me out. Take every deadline, date, or test you need to manage, and write it down. Keep track of them, but do not let them control you. The constant pressure to be on top of everything, that perfectionism, is not worth it. High school is too short to always be worrying about stuff you “should” be doing. I am not saying deadlines are unimportant, just don’t let them define you.
Instead, focus on what makes you skip your homework. If you need a break, take one. If your fish need attention, give it. Nobody is keeping track of whether your paper was a week before the deadline or a minute. In the end, it will still get done. So if you ever find yourself frustrated with yourself for procrastinating, try to give yourself some grace. After all, the things that make
life worth living are never the things that are graded or judged by others. Remember, time you enjoy wasting will never be wasted time.
This would not be a senior goodbye without thank-yous. I want to thank each and every one of my teachers, whether I struggled or succeeded in your class, I cannot name one class that did not change me for the better in some way. I want to thank my parents, for always being right where I needed them, guiding me every step of the way. I want to thank every classmate who touched my life, regardless of whether we were friends or not. I believe we borrow a piece of each other when we meet new people, and I am thankful that so many people have left their impression on me. I want to thank Coach Parkman, who is the reason I became a writer for TRL. I would never have discovered my love for journalism without his support. Thank you my baseball coaches for giving me the mental tools I need to seize every day. I doubt I’ll ever forget that every day is a good day.
As I look ahead to college and beyond, I see a ton of uncertainty. There are so many paths I could take, people to meet, and places to see. One thing I know for certain, though, is I am going to procrastinate every second of it.
