Growing up and moving on are two
hard concepts to grasp, especially for high school seniors. This is why I chose
the topic of the transition from high school to college. This is a broad topic
but it is something that is on most seniors’ minds. Having attended the cozy Randolph School for 13 years, I am anxious about
my future into college.
I’ll never forget “graduating” from
middle school and moving on to big bad high school. Having an older sister, I
knew what to expect. Even though I knew I had her by my side I was still
worried about high school and being at the bottom of the food chain. For
example, me and two other lonely freshmen made the varsity cheerleading squad.
It was tough sitting alone on the back of the bus. All the other girls had been
friends for years now and did not want to have to deal with annoying freshmen. We
would try to talk to the upper classmen but the conversation seemed to be very
one sided. I would ask simple questions like “Oh is calculus hard?” and “kinda.”
would be my only answer. Eventually we felt accepted and I was able to move on,
but that transition was hard and something I will never forget.
If I thought that was hard, college
is going to really challenge me. Not knowing anyone at such a big school is a
lonely feeling. On the bright side, most everyone feels the same way, or that’s
at least that’s what I am hoping.
Because
we can’t predict the future this is a hard topic. Most people don’t even know
where they want to go, or if they will get into their dream school. Different
questions run through my mind everyday. Who will I room with? What will I have to let go of? Am I
ready to live without my parents support or even whom will I still keep in
contact with? Having been with the same students for almost my whole life makes
these questions hard.
Some of my
friends will end up at the same college, but others might be thousands of miles
away. From what I imagine, the first few years we will constantly text, see
each other at Randolph football games and make sure to catch up. But as time
goes on we will slowly grow up and lose contact with each other and that scares
me. I do not want to just catch up with my high school friends’ life via social
media. It’s hard to think you have such good friends in high school and they
will be gone and a brand new set of friends will be made in college.
Some days I’m ready to leave and want my fresh start that instant. But
other days, I just want to cry. I love senior year and the memories I have
created with my class, bonding at get –togethers and supporting each other
during the arts or the athletics. I love the relationships I have built and
looking back at all of my old Randolph memories. Moving on is going to be hard,
and no one truly knows if they are ready. Journaling will help get my thoughts out of the subconscious and
hopefully not worry.
I am so excited to see where you go with this! I feel the exact same way when it comes to not knowing who I will keep in contact with and what the first step into college life even is. Most of the time I don't think I will be able to handle this at all! At my church we had a lesson about our friends and how we are very similar to the people we associate with. We talked about how we should choose good friends now to help develop our personalities but chances are that we will never see these friends again even though they helped create the basic you. My mom says she just barely talks to maybe one friend from high school and is maybe friends with 5 more on facebook? Of course they did not have facebook back then so I can totally see myself checking up on friends over social media rather then having to actually call and catch up! So excited to follow this special topic!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on some days not wanting to leave, and others wanting to pack and hit the road tomorrow. I know everyone feels this way and is a little anxious/scared about college. I can't wait to see how your thoughts and feelings change!
ReplyDeleteThis is going to be a really interesting topic Catherine!! Especially once we graduate and you look back on this. I like how you used the specific examples of your sister going off to college and you and cheerleading. This topic is one that we can all relate to!
ReplyDeleteThis topic is so on point for right now! I feel the same exact way about wanting to get out of randolph and move on with my life and other times I just want to stay here forever! I think the transitions you make will be really interesting in this blog and I cant wait to see where it goes!
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to read something like this for me because I try not to get too emotional over these things and just live in and enjoy the moment, but the way you wrote this makes it hard to ignore that the end is approaching and their are so many unknowns in the future. Truly thought-provoking
ReplyDeleteCatherine I love this topic! It's something that all seniors will think about, some sooner than others, but we all have to. For me, I am interested in how to deal with not thinking so much about how it is ending and enjoy the rest of senior year.
ReplyDeleteCatherine, I am so glad you picked this topic! It is definitely something that every single one of us can relate to. I know for a fact one day I can be so ready to leave, and the next day I'll be crying over counting down the days until we all have to go our separate ways. I don't know whether to say I love or hate that you mentioned having to keep up with people via social media. The sad thing is, that that is the direction we are headed in, and I hate admitting that's true! It's great to know that all of us have the same questions racing through our heads. I think reading this will help us all remember we are in the same boat and it is okay to feel stressed and worried about next year. I'm anxious to see where you take this blog and if in the end it comes out in a positive or negative light.
ReplyDeleteThis makes me want to cry. But I have the same exact feelings. I'm looking forward to following this topic. Maybe you'll get some answers about moving on while exploring your thoughts. Maybe it'll also help all your classmates who read your blog!
ReplyDeleteLove this topic since it has most definitely ran through my mind multiple times this year. I feel like your blog will help a lot of seniors find some answers that will help them with their transition. Its really hard to imagine where we will all be in four years or beyond, its hard to picture growing up and really getting a handle on reality. Although growing up seems so far away and feels like it is never going to come, this year with questions posed like "what career path are you thinking?" has made adulthood feel like only a few steps away. I'm so interested to see what you find!!
ReplyDeleteThis topic is so real. I've been avoiding trying to think about things, I don't know I guess I'm just a little afraid of the unknown, but even though I'm afraid I absolutely can't wait to see what my future holds. As far as the losing touch with friends thing goes, I had so many close friends leave me this year for college, and honestly we have not kept in touch as much as I though we would have. I do like to think that your one or two best friends will always be around, but now I'm starting to think that may be too optimistic. Anyways I loved reading this and will definitely continue to read your posts, great job.
ReplyDeleteYou know what is really scary? This will happen at many times in your life. You'll make a group of friends, become part of a community, then they or you will move on and it will all seem like a dream. That happened to me when I lost touch with my powerful HS relationship, many of my best college friends, and most recently when I left New Orleans. It's weird that it is so hard to maintain that deep bond even in a time of telephones and email. It shows me how propinquity is to important--being physically in the same space--to friendship. We have to literally bump into each other regularly in order to maintain relationships. Now I'm depressed about this and I don't want to ever move again, but how realistic is that? Life is all about change; the only constant in life is change. Dude, that was heavy...
ReplyDeleteCatherine, our Situations are so similar. I'm going to miss my mom so much and I'm going to worry about her all the time just like she is going to worry about me! I really hope she can celebrate just like Borba did! Good job!
ReplyDelete