Graduation is not the end, it is the beginning

Graduation+is+not+the+end%2C+it+is+the+beginning

Graduation is a major milestone in the life of a student and the final year of school serves as a rite of passage. It is our last year of “firsts.” As a senior, every class, school, and sporting event takes on a new meaning, when we realize it is our last year. We enjoy every perk that comes with being an upperclassman.

This change is exciting for many students, and for some it may be challenging or even emotional. In less than four months, we will walk across the field to receive our diploma. We will receive our “ticket” to freedom and to our future. We have worked towards this goal for thirteen years. In May, we will hear the birds chirp and smell the fresh cut grass. Our family and friends will watch from the seats at Wildcat stadium when we stand for one last time as the class of JHS 2023.

We will enter as classmates and will leave as graduates who are ready to start something new and pursue our hopes and dreams.

Over the years we have grown and started to figure out who we are, and we are not done yet. In fact, the National Center for Education Statistics said that 95% of high school students do not know what they want to do. We do not need to have it all figured out before graduation or in college. Did you know that 80% of students will change majors at least once in college? We do not need to have our future path figured out the day we graduate from high school. There are different paths for all us and we will figure them out in our own time.

We all need to slow down, take a few minutes to enjoy the sights, sounds, and activities of our final year. Spring is around the corner and so is graduation.

The day we have all been waiting for and the stepping stone to our future is almost here. In these final months, be bold, be courageous, and be your best. It is important to put the effort into planning for the future. Take the college tours Explore the technical and trade programs. Daydream for a while. The possibilities are endless and it’s about finding the things that make you happy.

Graduation is the beginning of something bigger. Each of us has the opportunity to create our own future. So, the next time that you’re annoyed and ready to ‘be done’ with school, pause and look around. Walk slow. Take in the sights and sounds and try to absorb it.

Our days in these hallways are running out, but we still have time to make an impact.

It is up to each one of us to make this stage of our journey the best that we can and make memories with our friends. Slow down, breathe, and don’t forget to smile. We will never get this time back. It is up to us to make the rest of our senior year count before it is time for us to begin the next chapter. 

Sources: https://wheretheroostercrows.com/what-to-do-after-high-school-if-you-dont-know-what-to-do/

Image Credit: https://theflucobeat.com/schoolcommunity/2019/05/16/seniors-take-a-walk-down-memory-lane/