In 2025, over 600 students will be graduating with every student having a unique path they will follow for their future. The last year of high school is a sentimental, enjoyable, and even stressful time in many student’s lives. With balancing classes, social events and the rigorous college application process, senior year is a defining year in a student’s academic career.
“I actually really enjoyed high school, but it’s cool to know that I’m going to be moving on to another part of my life soon,” senior Selena Xu said. “After getting applications in, I can be happy about where I’m at.”
Seniors have the opportunity to look back on their past years of school and reflect on the lessons they have learned along the way. Leaving high school can give a new perspective of life, but it may cause students some distress due to leaving their familiar life behind. Understanding and overcoming these challenges can help with the transitional period from high school to college.
“It’s a little sentimental, I know there’s going to be new things happening in college but I’m a little scared to leave high school,” Xu said.
Around 62% of high school seniors attend some sort of post-secondary school after graduating.for most students, continuing their education is the next step to their desired career path. (Education Data Initiative).
“I want to go into college and pursue computer science, and then I want to get a master’s,” Xu said. “After that I want to work at a software developer.”
While being a senior does allow for more flexibility and freedom, it can still be overwhelming for some students. With college applications, students may find themselves struggling to uphold their current grades while also cramming in college essays before deadlines. However, the ability to balance academic performances while also preparing for college can show high levels of responsibility within students.
“[I want to] balance my coursework. I have a lot of harder coursework this year [along] with my extracurriculars and also college applications,” Xu said.
Despite the academic challenges and nervousness of transitioning from high school to the real world, senior year represents the end of a chapter in many student’s lives. The freedom that comes with graduating high school sparks feelings of excitement for the future.
“I think it will be a little bit freeing. A little bit more freedom in my life getting to control my own destiny,” Xu said.
While senior year is just beginning, the 2024-2025 school year will be over in a flash. Many students will be graduating onto new stages of life, and other students will begin their high school experience. The cycle of starting high school and graduating is never ending, and allows for students to grow, reflect, and prepare for their life onwards.
