Clearing Space for What's Next: A Senior's Guide to Getting Ready for College

Guest blog post by Amelia Jaimes, Intern, Clutter Kicker

Photo credit: Aliya Dworkin

Hi, my name is Amelia, and I’m a senior at Amity Regional High School. For my last three weeks of school I’m interning with Clutter Kicker, and although it's been just two weeks, I’ve already learned so much. 

I will be starting Pennsylvania State University in the fall as a Biomedical Engineering major, and as I prepare for this huge life transition, I’ve realized how important organization can be. Between preparing for college, balancing school and work, and figuring out how to move my entire life into a dorm room, I’ve had to find ways to stay organized and make things feel less overwhelming. 

I wanted to share some ways I’ve been organizing myself during senior year, along with a few things I’ve learned throughout this experience that have helped me feel more prepared for this next chapter. 

Senior Year Reset

Senior year is exciting, emotional, busy, and a little chaotic. With all the stress of applying to colleges, graduation plans, extracurriculars, jobs, and trying to have fun during your last year of high school, it's easy for life, and by extension, your room, to get out of control. 

I didn't realize how much stuff I had collected over the years until I actually started preparing for college. Suddenly my room felt filled with random school papers, old clothes, drawers of things I forgot existed, and sentimental items I somehow convinced myself I still needed. 

And while preparing for college is exciting, it also made me realize how overwhelming change can feel when your space feels cluttered too. That’s why I think senior year is the perfect time for a reset. 

Why a Reset Matters 

For me, organizing during senior year became less about having a “clean room” and more about feeling prepared for a huge life change. 

There’s already so much happening emotionally during this time. You’re leaving routines and people you’ve had by your side your whole life, preparing to move away from home, and trying to figure out adulthood while still being in high school. 

One thing that especially helped me was creating Google Sheets for everything college-related. My roommate and I have shared spreadsheets for dorm shopping, what each of us is bringing, what we still need to buy, room ideas, and budgeting. 

At first it felt like a little bit too much, but it has made the process of preparing for college so much easier. Instead of constantly texting, “Who’s buying the cleaning supplies?” or “Wait, are you bringing the microwave?” We already had everything organized in one place.

As someone who tends to stress out easily, having systems like this makes me feel much more in control. But so is starting early.

Start Small 

One thing I realized very quickly is that trying to organize your entire life in one weekend is not realistic. 

Every corner of my room has something from a different phase of my life. What helps me the most is starting with small areas, instead of trying to tackle everything at once: 

• Desk 

• Closet 

• Bathroom drawer

• Old school work

• Under my bed 

Progress may be slow, but it is still progress. The most difficult thing may just be getting started. 

Ask Yourself: Do I Still Use This?

One thing I notice is I tend to keep things simply because I am used to seeing them there. Senior year made me realize how easy it is to hold onto things “just in case.” This is also known as “Clutter Blindness," which is when you become so used to seeing clutter in your space that you stop noticing it altogether. Once I started actually looking through my room, I realized how many things I had kept without even thinking. 

Questions To Ask Yourself:

• Do I really need this item?

• Would I purchase this item again today?

• Would I bring this to college?

Resetting Your Space Can Reset Your Mindset 

I never realized how much my environment affected my stress until senior year. 

When my room was messy, laundry was everywhere, and papers were piled up, I felt unmotivated and overwhelmed all the time. But once I started resetting my space and creating small organizing systems for myself, everything felt lighter. 

Even simple habits helped:

• Updating my Google Sheets 

• Cleaning off my desk before bed 

• Donating/selling clothes I no longer wore 

• Making checklists instead of trying to remember everything mentally 

It made such a difference during a time of life that already feels emotionally exhausting. 

Moving Forward

Senior year is full of transitions, and transition times can be messy. However, taking some time to reorganize your personal space before starting your next chapter can make a huge difference. You just need systems that make your life feel easier and a space that supports the person you're becoming. 

And sometimes, moving forward starts with clearing out what no longer fits into your next chapter.