Throughout senior year, I have heard the same phrase over and over: “Make it count.” It comes from teachers, parents, and even older siblings who promise that this year will fly by. The message is well-intentioned, but after a while, it starts to feel like pressure.

There are sporting events to attend, activities to participate in, and milestones to document. Every decision can feel bigger than it actually is. If you skip something, you wonder if you will regret it later. If you stay home on a Friday night, it can feel like you are missing out on what is supposed to be the “best year ever.” When every event is framed as a memory in the making, it becomes easy to feel like you are constantly being measured on how well you are experiencing your own life. 

What people do not always talk about is how stressful this year can be. According to the American Psychological Association, nearly 83 percent of teens report that school is a significant source of stress, especially during major transition years. Senior year is not just about celebrating milestones, it’s also filled with deadlines, expectations, and uncertainty about the future. Between applications, decisions, and conversations about what comes next, there is little room to simply breathe. 

Instead of just living senior year, it can start to feel like something you have to maximize. There is pressure to appreciate every moment while it is happening, which makes it harder to actually enjoy it. It is difficult to be present when you are also thinking about how quickly time is passing and whether you are making the most of it.

The truth is, a lot of senior year feels normal. There are still early mornings, assignments, and responsibilities that do not disappear just because it is your final year. Some days are exciting, but many are routine. For a while, I thought that meant I was not “doing” senior year correctly. 

But maybe ordinary does not mean unimportant. 

The moments that have mattered most to me have not been the big events. They have been late night drives with the windows down, studying with friends for a test, and spontaneous coffee runs after school. None of it seems extraordinary in the moment, but those ordinary scenes are the ones that quietly shape who I am becoming.

As I prepare for my future next year, I have started thinking differently about what it means to make something count. Maybe making it count does not mean saying yes to everything or forcing every day to feel unforgettable. 

Maybe it means being present, even on ordinary days. Senior year does not have to be perfect to matter. It just has to be real.