[Student Reporters] Seniors Share a Vast Array of Feelings about their FutureAll

David Choi / <10th, Los Alamitos High School>

By now, seniors have gotten their acceptances and rejections from various colleges, scholarships, and other qualifications, and many are in a state of indecision, happiness, or sadness about what to do with their life during the next few years.

While some are very optimistic about their future and goals, some feel dismayed about the harsh reality that is facing them. Overall, they have a mixture of feelings about the upcoming years.

Many seniors feel optimistic and excited about their future years in college, to meet new people and have new experiences. “I want to get out of high school already,” states an anonymous senior, who is attending UC Berkeley coming September. “I can‘t wait until college to have different experiences and grow as a person.” He plans to major in chemistry and attend medical school after graduation.

Similarly, many others feel that college will be a new haven for personal, social, and intellectual growth for them, where they can further their knowledge and explore their passions.

In addition, some are also looking forward to post-high school as a means of turning their life around. Mark J., says, “I slacked off in high school. I never realized the importance of education until it finally hit me that my peers are off to great colleges with plans for their future, while I had none.” Mark plans to enroll in a community college and then transfer to a UC school, a viable option for many seniors to lessen the financial burden of their families.

However, other seniors are disappointed by the results and options that they are faced with. “I worked hard in high school, and I was rejected by all my first choice colleges, and have to settle for one of my safety schools. I know not everyone can end up getting what they want, but it’s still tough to swallow,” states K.M (who wished to go by his initials). Likewise, many feel hard-hit by the copious amounts of rejections due to the increase in competition among students. K.M. notes, “I mean, I guess admissions were just really competitive this year. Too many qualified students mean that there will inevitably be less room.”

Some, who did get accepted into colleges they desired, cannot attend the institutions due to financial reasons and have to settle for a more feasible option. Nick A., senior, states, “I got into my top choice, University of Pennsylvania, but unfortunately with the hard economic times, our family can‘t afford to pay all the money.”

A good number of students are unsure about what their lives will be like in the future. Jamie P. states, “Time passed by so fast…this is almost surreal. I have no idea what I will major in at college, or what my future occupation will be like. I’m going to miss high school!” Like Jamie, many seniors feel nostalgic and difficult to believe that they will soon be full on adults going to college and living a primarily independent lives.

Although many seniors hold different sentiments, plans, thoughts, and are placed in varying circumstances, a unifying idea characterizes all of them: the next few years will be critical and fundamental to what their future holds.