Seniors: As the leaves fall, keep your spirits up

Fall is my favorite time of the year. It's gorgeous blue skies, crisp clean air, misty nights, lovely multi-colored leaves.

And there are gloomy, rainy days, too -- better suited to the mood of high school seniors who may not exactly be savoring the season. Instead you might be cursing it as you work to keep up grades, take the SAT one final time, and write essay after essay after essay for the applications.

Here's some advice for seniors that's practical. Oh, there's a little about recommendation letters and essays. But the most interesting is the simple suggestion that seniors take long walks in which they spend the time imagining themselves at each of the schools on the list. Why did it make the cut? Can you honestly see yourself at the school? As you think about why the college matters to you, you might also come up with some ideas for supplemental essay questions that try to get to the heart of why you want to attend.

Keep your spirits and energy up, have fun when possible, and remember, this portion of your life will be over soon enough.

Meanwhile this mom is wishing for another freak October snowstorm that closes schools. Our senior could sure put a snow day to good use!