Seniors find different ways in preparing for their next steps after high school
Senior year can be one of the most exciting times in a students life. It can also be very stressful. Some students struggle under the pressure of balancing how to find the right college, good grades, and extracurriculars, while others feel motivated under this pressure. There are a lot of factors that affect college choices for students.
Sports are very important to some high school students. The sports you play can earn you scholarships, which are important because college is extremely expensive.
“I plan on attending UNCW on a full ride scholarship to play volleyball,” senior Alyssa Stone said. “I am excited to get out of my comfort zone and make new friends.”
College athletics are a good way to branch out and meet new people. Multiple students are looking forward to showing colleges their uniqueness and how they will dominate in their sport.
“I plan on running track at any college I can,” said senior Colby Beeker. “I am excited about showing coaches what I can do. My goal is to be one of the fastest runners at the school I chose to attend.”
Some students are nervous for life after high school. This can impact a students decision on going to college or not.
“My fears for after high school are being on my own and not having anyone to take care of me,” senior Alex Tart said. “Doing my own dishes is another concern.”
There are a lot of stressful parts in finding the right college, but there are also positive sides about moving into a new chapter of life.
“I am excited about leaving high school and begin growing up independently,” senior Hailey Malsch said.
There are also struggles of being a senior in high school. Some of these struggles have nothing to do with college at all.
“I definitely have senioritis,” Beeker said. "I have had it since freshman year. I have [not] been motivated to do any work in high school, even though I know I have to do it.”
Senioritis is something high schoolers get as they get closer to graduating. It is the lack of motivation to do work. Multiple seniors feel like senioritis affects them too.
“I think to an extent I have senioritis because everyone just wants to leave [high school] by now, and at the same time I know I have to finish out the school year in order to graduate and get into UNC Wilmington,” Stone said.
High school can be a struggle. There are lots of things everyone could change if they could go back to the start of it all and there are also things no one would change. High school is a crazy ride with lots of highs and lows, but it will teach you very important life lessons.
“If I could go back to the start of high school I would not change a thing,” senior LaDerrick Neville said. “Freshman year was the starting point of what made me who I am today, even the bad times.”
Some people say the best life lessons are learned by making mistakes. Teenagers learn lots of life lessons while they grow and mature into young adults.
“I would change some of the friends I chose to associate myself with and also the relationships [that turned] into unnecessary drama and negative vibes,” Stone said. “I would also learn to be more organized and fix all my study methods.”
The four years one spends in high school can allow students to mature and prepare for life as they grow and become more independent. Hard life lessons are learned, friendships fall apart, but new friendships and new memories will be made. The good and bad times will always occur, but Northen students always push through and strive to do big things!