The countdown has begun: seniors scrawl their university names on notebooks and hang their graduation robes in the corners of their closets while sophomores anxiously anticipate their rise to upperclassmen status. Teachers attempt to combat senioritis (and the lesser-known, early-onset strains of sophmumps and juniorvitus). The end of the year ticks closer, and seniors are faced with much more than simply organizing grad parties and packing for college.

Keep Working

Scholastic individuals must push themselves through the final days, straining past the obstacles of their burning (brain) muscles and toiling through group projects and lengthy papers. If intelligent individuals simply trudge through their final quarter of school, neglecting their work and producing only minimally acceptable papers, they train their brains to grow accustomed to a slacker’s lifestyle.

While this causes no immediate problems, it can influence the following year of education with a nasty outcome. And slacking off in the last quarter of high school can make it harder to integrate into society later in life—one quarter of laziness creates a long-term habit of lethargy. Get into the practice of constantly working hard.

Sustain Relationships

For many, the end of the 2016-17 school year means separation from decade-long friendships. The only way to combat this frightening prospect is to appreciate the final weeks as much as possible. Appreciate the late, popcorn-stuffed movie nights, the early morning coffee dates and the support of a friend who knows you well. Don’t let your friends treat you poorly just because you won’t be with them every day next year. Make sure each of your friends are worthy of friendship, or cut out the toxic people in your life.

Don’t keep yourself from making new friends just because school is ending. Appreciate those who have similar backgrounds—cherish that each person at this school understands the Annie’s/Bobby’s and Peel/ Dewey’s conflicts. Realize that each person in this town began with almost identical backgrounds, and enjoy how different everyone has become. Relish the comfort while you can, then embrace the change when it comes.

Leave High School

While many ‘80s movies (and even a few Disney musicals) depict high school as the best years of your life, let your memories stay in high school. The final few months of this year—the last pep rallies, late-night cram sessions, and “see you laters”—might be those you remember the most, but don’t drag your memories with you next year, or try to recreate your memories in college. Appreciate the last moments of high school, record everything you can and write heartfelt messages in yearbooks. But once high school ends, move on and welcome the new scenery.