My senior year just ended a month or so ago. I have to say, I loved it. In general, the beginning sucks compared to the end. Not only to you have to college hunt, and go through the painful application process, but your teachers still take you seriously and expect you to do work. Onced you hit the halfway mark, though, the party starts. You hear back from your schools, and teachers begin to lessen the load, because they know you probably won't do it anyway. Or, at least mine did. But I only had two classes at the end of my senior year. My math teacher, whom I've known since I was about two, and who taught me Precalculus and Calculus, gave homework every night, weekends included. Until a month before the last day for seniors.
It wasn't even the freedom or respect I got from teachers that made it great, though. Senior year was the one year filled completely with electives, so I got to take classes I actually wanted to take, with teachers I loved (one of whom let our very small class the previous year play a card game called Shithead, which involved lots of terrorizing freshman, and another of whom popped popcorn and watched). Because of the freedom of my schedule, for my last quarter, I had only Shakespeare adn Calculus for actual classes, and they were both very easy. I also had an independent study at the same time as three other friends, so we would leave for hours, as lunch was right after our study, and go to the beach, go downtown, to a coffeeshop, or take a picnic. Then I left school early after math, when most people were still stuck there for another class. It was a great time.
As for events, though, some highlights:
Spirit week. It was my class's last one, so we made it worth it. Running into the gym at the pep rally and moshing at the center, cheering the school cheer, was so fun.
Senior banquet. Only downside was that it was formal, and I LOATHE dresses. That night was the first time I'd worn one since my eighth grade graduation. It was such fun, though. Beside the fact that EVERYONE pointed out that I was in a dress. There was lots of yearbook signing, chilling, picture-taking, and the senior video my friend made was just hilarious.
Celebration Graduation. First night I stayed up 24+ hours straight. There was just so much to do. Balloon people, dance (Fiesta themed), pizza, magazine cover pictures, fortune tellers, airbrush tattoos, midnight bowling, more food, hypnotist, raffle prizes, inflatable obstacle course, pool, foosball, etc. Then there was our awesome bus driver, who told us to rock that bus harder than any other. The wheels were seriously a foot at least off the ground. Then at the very end, she let us use the emergency exit door. What a way to go out.
Oh eight, dominate!