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Drink water! Chloe Spoonemore has been an avid water drink and ice eater all though high school. She's always munching on her ice no matter what class she's in.

As I sit in the news room for my final days, I realized I have a lot of advice to give to all the underclassmen. So, here it is:

1. Don’t be afraid to try new things. I know it sounds so cliche, but it’s true. Push yourself to do something that isn’t in your realm of normal. Try out for a new sport, join the play, participate in speech. You might not like it, but there’s a chance you’ll find your new favorite thing. Junior year I tried out for Speech with no planning whatsoever. I was horrible. I had no facial expressions or change in tone, which are the things you have to have in Storytelling. However, by the end of the year I was rocking it and got three I ratings at State Speech.
2. Find at least one teacher who you really get along with. If you have one teacher you know you can always go to for help, whether it be help with school problems, home life, relationships or college, you’re set. Teachers have experienced a lot of the same things we have and are almost always more than willing to help out.
3. Expand your friend group. Everyone says quality over quantity and that is very true, especially in high school. Sometimes you need to have a larger group of friends. You don’t even necessarily have to call them friends, more like acquaintances. Knowing and getting along with a lot of people will make group projects, lunches, events and extracurricular activities easier because you’ll always have someone to sit with and talk to.
4. Utilize the DMACC classes offered to you. There are three different ways to get DMACC credit here. One is to take a class online. There are quite a few options offering two to four credits. You also have the option to travel to DMACC in Perry to take courses. The final option is to take dual enrollment classes in the building. Classes offered for this year were Statistics, Journalism and Language and Composition. It will save you money in the long run because most colleges will take DMACC credits. It also allows you to explore classes you are interested and decide what you really want to pursue.
5. Allow yourself to take easy classes and have opens. It’s your senior year, and believe me, Senioritis is a real thing. I’ve been experiencing it all year long. If you build up your schedule with eight hard classes, your stress level is going to be high and you’re probably going to regret a few of those classes. Take the fun classes, have an open (or two!) and leave this year for RELAXING.
6. Have as much fun as you can, but be safe. Again, it’s your senior year! Go to sports games, fine art events, dinner with your friends, get coffee… do what makes you happy. Always remember to wear your seat belt, drive the speed limit and don’t do illegal stuff. (Illegal stuff looks really bad on applications.)
7. Ditch your phone once in a while. Whether it’s walking down the hallways or going out, ditch your phone. Put it on silent and don’t look at it the rest of the day or night. You’ll find yourself really engaging in conversation and enjoying yourself. You might even forget about the messages or Snaps you’re missing, but I promise they’ll be waiting for you when your phone free time is over.
8. Stay healthy. Drink water (if you forget your water, Buchman has water in his room for 25 cents!), eat good food, get exercise, go outside once in a while and go to the doctor if you’re not feeling like yourself. That includes your mental health, too! There is no shame in getting help if you’re not feeling yourself.
9. Take some time to color. The counseling office has coloring books, markers and colored pencils. If you’re having a rough day and just need some time to relax, spend some time sitting around and coloring. It will help more than you think.
10. Don’t be afraid to take a lot of photos. I know I just told you to leave your phone behind, but on the days you keep it with you, take photos to document your day. One day when you’re old you may want to look back at all the fun times you had.
11. Remember who you are and be yourself. Rock the mom jeans. Let your legs be hairy. Do what YOU want to do, not what the popular trend is. It’ll make you much more confident and happier. Be proud of who you are.