Senior Year: The end of an era and the opening of a new door. We have had so many “lasts” and “firsts” already. We get asked questions everyday from adults who are curious about our future plans and, to be honest, not all of us have everything planned. I didn’t know what I wanted to do until the third week of school. I now have it figured out, but not every senior knows their future plans. While you might be feeling the pressure to commit to a school, career or job, this is our time to explore and discover what passions we might have. It’s okay not to know what to do after high school.
We spend so much of our time as seniors stressing out about the little details of this school year and the steps into adulthood. I’ve been accepted to Missouri State University in Springfield. As awesome as that is, I can’t help but stress about the small details. It is extremely expensive and I’m moving away from family and friends I’ve been around my whole life. Questions constantly fill my head. How am I going to pay for this? Where do I go if I need advice? Why am I leaving everyone I love? I just can’t help but worry about everything! We don’t need to know where we are going or what we want to do or how we are going to pay for everything. We are always told to “be prepared,” and “go to college” but the truth of it is, when worrying is all we do, then we can’t “enjoy senior year” like others tell us to. I have learned it’s okay not stress.
Some seniors have expressed not wanting to go to college after we graduate. Many adults tell us “you have to go to college to get a good job,” that is not always true though. Many students who have graduated before us didn’t further their education at a university. Most began just working and now some of them get paid more than the adults that told them to attend college. Some seniors have decided to go into the work force and others have chosen to join the military. There are other paths to success. It’s okay not to go to college after high school.
Don’t let the pressure of becoming an adult make you forget that this is supposed to be the best year of our high school careers. Adulthood is scary and we are never promised tomorrow, so we must find the things we are most passionate about. Without passion, we won’t find something that makes us feel fulfilled. It’s okay not to know what to do after high school, not to stress, not to go to college after high school, but it’s not okay to forget to grow personally so you can find your life’s mission.
