TITLE: Diary of a Senior: Big Discovery GRADE LEVELS: 9-12 CONTENT AREAS: English, Advisory, Life…
Seeing the post-high-school world of choices as a big shopping mall.
Melissa is here to answer all your burning college questions!
As we all know, a senior has a lot of responsibilities before he or she leaves and goes off to college. There are sacrifices, risks, and also areas to improve before we can actually say we are ready for college. I have a few main areas where I need to grow to be prepared for my next step after graduation.
Okay, college. That’s the goal. Actually, that’s more of a necessity.
I know that I want to go to college, and I’m pretty sure I want to become a journalist and/or lawyer, so that, of course, requires a college degree. But what college? And how will I get there? Those are my main dilemmas.
Last year when I was searching and yearning for the perfect college, the idyllic Hogwarts-esque institution of my imagination, I guess you could say I had three priorities: running, college-touring, and school (Those last two were interchangeable with reading and hanging out with friends, depending on my mood.).
"The choices we make dictate who we are.” I don’t remember who said that, but I’m pretty sure it was from a movie, and knowing my track record, it probably had Adam Sandler in it.
Up until this point I have not been responsible for any real, major decisions regarding myself or my life.
Where I’ve gone to school, what sports I’ve participated in, where I work, who I hang out with and date, even what classes I’ve taken have all been approved, if not chosen, by my parents.
So when it came time for me to make one decision for myself (where to go to college), I freaked out. I didn’t know what atmosphere made me feel most comfortable. I didn’t know what level of selectivity I wanted my school to have. I didn’t know what I, with help from my parents, could afford in student loans.
Senior year is a time to have fun, make memories that will last a lifetime, and of course, spend countless hours applying to the colleges of your dreams. Although the application process may be very time consuming, it will definitely help if you go into it knowing what you want for yourself.
For example: Size? Location? Major? All of those factors and many more will play into your decision process, helping you along the way.
As for myself, I think I have a pretty good idea of my priorities when looking for a school. They are: Reputation of the college/ university, my field of interest, and school community.
After I receive that bright, shiny diploma, and I am no longer required to attend school, I plan on running away to join a circus. I am an amazing tightrope walker.
Just kidding. I have terrible balance and would fall as soon as I no longer had solid ground beneath my feet.
I hope that a similar demise will not befall me when I attempt my real post-secondary future.
A world full of endless possibilities lies beyond our school walls. The question is: Amid all those opportunities, which ones are right for each of us?
As college-bound students, it will take us months to discover our own niche. Right now, we are probably counting down the days to graduation; through this anticipation, we are either enjoying the remainder of high school or waiting for something better to come along.
But, it’s important to remember why we want to go to college or any other post-secondary place. Whatever we consider as a priority will affect the next step we take.
