Seniors, as we approach our final day of school on May 7, you may likely be asking yourself a seemingly-endless number of questions… many of which pose an answer which stands in the midst of a global fear for many young adults like us: uncertainty. I know you may have heard this too many times, especially in the last few months of your high school career, but you are not alone. Graduating high school is not just an accomplishment that is celebrated all around the world, but also a crucial stepping stone to what lies in a mysterious, unpredictable future you will soon venture into. Time doesn’t ever stop going, and it’ll continue to move forward at a faster pace every time you pay attention to it. Like, we were just reading the very first page of The Hobbit, and now we are getting ready to “grow up”? After this… what’s next…?
…is what all seniors are thinking right now…
Regardless if you have a plan or not, such as attending a college or university or joining a trade school, I can guarantee you that everyone around you is nervous. Sure, you may not know the fine details about your upcoming voyage to the real world, and that is completely fine. In fact, this is what colleges and universities actually want you to do. This is your chance to redeem yourself and transform each and every aspect of your life into something new. Something without the weight of the world being lifted off your shoulders by your parents or guardians. Something bigger than the picture. Something… worth it.
And “something worth it” is unfortunately becoming a realistic question that real high schoolers are having to ask themselves, daily, with real fear in their eyes as they do so. All of these big decisions that you and your peers are “forced” to make at such a young age can easily stress you out. Numerous seniors at Hillcrest High School feel this exact way–everyone’s already “committed” to their future yet you’re still trying to figure out how you’ll afford it before the national Decision Day on May 1st. Not only that, but…
Will it all be worth it? All of those extra years of my life poured into the cauldron of education for a dream job that’s becoming more and more selective every single year? Will I get replaced by AI in the future? Will I… be successful in life because of this?
But sometimes, it’s better to go forth into the future without knowing exactly what will happen. These details will have to be forged by your own doings. There are no more schedules set in place for you by others after high school. Almost all accomplishments and tasks you will take on going forward are merely by choice. It is now your choice to choose where you will go. Where you will stay and grow. Where you will build a legacy.
To all of my fellow Hawks, do not be afraid to start a new chapter in your life. For some, being away from home may seem like a nightmare. For others, this may be the best time of their lives.
I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous about it all. For a lot of our seniors, including myself, this will be the first time actually being decently-distant from my own family, where I will be forced to act upon myself in my own decision making. I asked some of my fellow peers about their situations, and unsurprisingly, our situations are extremely relatable.
Olamilekan Fabamigbe, a senior who will be attending UIC this fall, says “Not knowing how my future will be makes me feel worried, but drives me to stay on track and do whatever it takes to be successful”, emphasizing the importance of motivation and focus. Daniela Perez, another senior who will be attending UIC this fall, says “When I think about the cost, the decision becomes more stressful because it’s not just about where I want to go, but it’s also about whether the investment will actually be worth it”. On top of the extremely high cost of a college education, students are faced with an extraordinary amount of stressful challenges they must deal with throughout their entire journey. Although, many use these difficulties and uncertainties to fuel their motivation, and hope that things will fall into place as they continue to progress.
Regardless of what you may do or where you may end up after high school, as long as you become disciplined and determined to dictate the life that you decide to live, this whole “adulthood process” is just another one of those phases in your life that isn’t anything you cannot tackle.
We are all in this together. On the same boat, sailing through the last high wave of certainty and into the deep sea. Look through your spyglass and observe. Keep both of your hands on the wheel of your ship.
Where will be the next island that you anchor at?…
