Q: (Initially posted on January 30, 2003) FROM KRISTIN A. IN KY
All through high school I have felt like a part of the class above me. Last year all of my closest friends graduated leaving me stuck in high school while they went off to enjoy the freedom of college. Despite having only 3 months of school left, I feel like I am loosing my drive. Can you offer any advice to keep myself motivated until I have a tassel attached to my hat? Thanx.

January 31, 2003
A: FROM MENTOR AMY MARKISHTUM IN WA
Dear Kristin,
Hang in there. I felt the same way the last term of my senior year. I was
ahead in credits so I was only attending school in the morning, and I was
working in the afternoons. I felt very disconnected and felt like I was just
going through the motions and couldn't wait to start college. My advice to
you is to try and keep yourself involved as much as possible. You have
something in common with the other students you will be graduating with. Try
to be a part of the celebration of your last term in high school. If you can
work on the committees who will help to organize these events it might get
you back into the excitement of this event for you.
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A: FROM MENTOR ANITA CARRASCO IN NM
Kristin,
I know how you feel about loosing your motivation. It happens to most people, and when you get near graduating from college that same feeling will come back! All I can say is that you should enjoy your time in high school and college as well. It goes by so fast. As for all your friends graduating, it sounds like a good time to get to know more people in your own class. When you go to college you will be in the same situation where you don't know many people and will be in an unfamiliar environment. Same situation if you go to work in a new city. It's the way things work unfortunately, nothing stays the same and you have to adapt. I graduated from high school almost 6 years ago and I can honestly say that there are many people I wish I would have taken the time to get to know better, the same goes for college. Good luck, and congratulations on your upcoming graduation!
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A: FROM MENTOR NANCY WHITE IN WA
Identifying how you are feeling -- which you have done -- is a really
important first step. Congratulations on thinking about what to do next. I'm
sure there are a TON of ideas, but here are a few brainstorms to add in...

* Can you attend classes at the local community college along with your
high school classes? Here in Washington State we have what is called
"Running Start" which offers this opportunity and it is coordinated through
the high school.
* Find a challenging internship, job or volunteer opportunity
* Mentor a younger woman or be a Teaching Assistant for a class that you
loved taking at your high school-- for me this helps me remember what the
spark of motivation felt like and often r ignites me as well. Moving the
focus off my problems also can provide the bit of distance I need to
actually better understand them. It's like seeing the same picture, but
through a different lens.
* Set a goal/reward for yourself for making it through the next 3 months.
An old boss of mine used to say "always have an island to swim towards."
Maybe a reunion with your older friends, a special weekend, or something
like that.
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A: FROM MENTOR KAREN SIZEMORE IN KY
Oh, Kristin it sounds like senioritis to me. As a high school teacher, I
have seen this be a problem with my students in their final semester of
school. Some things you need to think about, have you finished your
application process for college and just waiting to see what type of offers
you will receive? If you have not completed the application process for
admission and financial scholarships then you need to get working on them.
Many students know by this time where they are planning on attending college
but don't forget that colleges look at that last semester of high school to
see the commitment a student has to their academic career, many times the
last semester grades can be an indicator. Since you are a Kentucky student,
you are required to have a writing portfolio, spend some extra time on that
to develop a distinguished writing portfolio.

Grades are not the only things colleges consider, your involvement in
extracurricular activities will make you stand out from other high school
seniors. Are you involved with any sports, clubs, community activities? Put
some focus into these items. This is your senior year of high school try to
think beyond yourself and look at how you might improve this year for the
better of all of your classmates. Work on doing a video or collection of
pictures to remember your senior year that might be shown at your graduation
ceremony. Think about ideas that you might do to make a lasting memory for
all your classmates of their years together.

Basically my advice is to do something that either concentrates on making
you a better prepared person for you first year in college or concentrate on
trying to make a memory of this last year in high school. When we begin to
look outside of ourselves and spend our energy to do productive things, we
develop a drive for completion of a project.

Good Luck and realize that this is all a part of maturity.