As graduation day gets closer and closer, seniors have a lot of weight on their shoulders to figure out their futures. Between finishing classes, figuring out what to do after graduation, worrying about their possible future financial stress, and dealing with high expectations from family members, they are under constant stress to do well in life after graduation.
At Lake Stevens High School, some seniors can be faced with the challenges of considering “What might I do after graduation?” and “What will people think of me if I don’t meet their standards?”
Many seniors are at the point in their high school career where they could be thinking about what they might want to do to be successful in the future. Some may be planning on enlisting in the military, going to trade school, joining the workforce or going to college. When figuring out what to do in the future, students could feel like they have to have their life figured out at 18 years old, which can be stressful.
“I think the most stressful part has been preparing and applying for colleges, you know, figuring out what you want to do, where you’re going to go, how you’re going to do it, as well as scholarships, because scholarships can be very vague if you don’t have a lot of guidance. We’re lucky to have guidance here at the high school, but that can be quite stressful for sure,” senior Wyatt Chudnofsky said.
When figuring out what to do after high school, many students consider the fact that they need to make a certain amount of money to be able to be financially independent. Students are also faced with the task of learning and handling financial situations, and some may not know how to do that.
With the constant rising costs of gas and the cost of living, it puts our generation in a worse situation because right out of high school, we will not be able to afford everything.
Senior Kameryn Arford highlighted that he needs to try to “find somewhere cheap to live, or a cheap house or have roommates as well,” to be able to afford the cost of living.
Many seniors also may be facing stress before they graduate because they might fear that they might not meet their personal goals, or meet their family’s goals for them, and may feel they are under pressure in a way.
Some family members may compare their students to others, which may make them feel like they are under pressure to perform well and choose something that will make their parents happy for them, but not them. It might also make students question, “What does success really mean?”
“Success is not about the money you make. It’s about how much fun you have doing it, and knowing you can do it every single day. People can have these big houses and stuff, have these extravagant cars, but if you just love what you’re doing and you know how to do it, well, that’s success,” Arford said.
During senior year, students may also be wondering how to deal with stress or anxiety as graduation approaches. According to an article reporting on a poll among high school seniors, students like to get more sleep, stay socially connected, and minimize other activities to allow time for breathing exercises or getting exercise to manage stress.
As graduation approaches here at Lake Stevens High School, everyday pressure among seniors continues to build. Many students are faced with defining success in their own terms, building their financial future, and meeting expectations for themselves.
In the end, graduation isn’t just about how stress can affect seniors, but it is also about being excited for what comes next in the next chapter of the future, and what that may look like for you. Although stress is a big factor, graduation is truly exciting.
Cameron, how are you feeling as graduation gets closer?
Honestly, pretty good. I like knowing that here soon not having to wake up so early to get up to school will be nice, but earlier for work. But honestly, it’s
not too bad I like it.
Yeah, what has been the most stressful part about preparing for life after high school?
Probably not being so what’s the way I’m looking for like, doing late stuff, being pretty, like procrastinating, being a big procrastinator in life. Yeah, a lot of work. So me too.
Do you feel ready for come for what comes next? Why or why not?
Honestly, I would say I’m in the middle. Yeah, I would say I’m in the middle of it, because I’m ready, but I’m not ready as well. I mean, I have a job right now, so, I mean, that’s prepared me for financial needs. I will need and get me ready. I have to learn how to save money, but at the same time, I’m not ready because it’s going to suck not seeing everyone who I know all the time, because everyone has to go to work and all that. So in here, you can kind of just see your friends the entire day and not have to worry about that stuff after school until after school.
Would you say your stress level has increased this year? And if it did? Why?
Honestly, I wouldn’t say it increased as much, I mean, maybe a little bit as the second semester comes along, but definitely with doing a extracurricular kind of like with snow Isle, and bringing down my classes to three definitely helps, because it puts less stress on me, and I know what I can do to help myself graduate this year on time.
All right, do you? Do you feel pressure to have a clear plan after graduation?
Yes and no, yes, because I know what I want to do after high school. I know I want to do, but no at the same time, because I know when it comes around to me applying there, I will do it and have it look presentable and take
my time. What’s next? How much? How Much Does Money influence your decision about what to do after graduation.
Honestly, not too much, because I don’t. Yes, I want to do all these things after high school. I go on these big, extravagant trips and all that, but knowing I have to physically save will hugely impact that. And also, I don’t really need much or want much. I just want to graduate high school and just see what life brings me.
Still, what you love, yep, what I love, and make sure I count.
Make a count. Yep.
Are you worried about paying for college or living expenses?
Living expenses a little bit college, because I’m not going that route. I’m going the trade route, hopefully with working at boat yards or going for a union in the welding industry. So not as much College, really, but more with Haus trying to find somewhere cheap to live, or a cheap house or have roommates as well.
All right, do your family’s expectations influence your plans after the future?
Yes and no, because I still want to be close to family, but I also want to try and be on my own. As I get older, try and be more on my own, but I still want to be as close to family as I can. I want to try and move somewhere outside of Lake Stevens or out of Washington, but still be close enough to where it’s not that far from the travel performance.
All right, have you ever felt pressure to follow a certain path because of others?
Honestly, a little bit, but it’s for a good reason, because I started a career with my grandpa. I learned how to weld from him when I was like nine years old, and old. And he’s always been passionate, kind of about it, and I’ve been passionate about it, nice. So a little bit of pressure there, but I know I can do it.
Okay. Um, last but not least, this is the most important question,
What does success mean to you?
Personally? Honestly, success is not about the money you make. It’s about how much fun you have doing it and knowing you can do it every single day makes it because, yes, people can have these big houses and stuff, have these extravagant cars, but if you just love what you’re doing and you know how to do it, well, that’s success, sweet.
I’m done with the questions. Where are you gonna say something?
Oh, and how you know you knew where you come from and see how you are now. Thank you.
Wyatt
How are you feeling as graduation gets closer?
I’m excited to go to college and continue my education further. It’s going to be sad leaving high school, leaving this social network behind, leaving all the friends I’ve built up, and there’s going to be a big shift from being a teenager to an adult. So that’s kind of scary, but also exciting at the same time.
What has been the most stressful part about preparing for life after high school?
I think the most stressful part has been preparing and applying for colleges, you know, figuring out what you want to do, where you’re going to go, how you’re going to do it, as well as scholarships, because scholarships can be very vague if you don’t have a lot of guidance. We’re lucky to have guidance here at the high school, but that can be quite stressful for sure.
Do you feel ready for what comes next? Why or why not?
I feel ready because I’ve committed a lot of time to preparing for college and doing things like scholarships and FAFSA to support myself financially. So I have a good idea of my future and what it’s gonna hold.
Would you say your stress level has increased this year? And why?
I would say at the beginning of senior year, my stress was a higher as that’s when it’s college applications. You’re starting to figure out your plans, what you want to do. But towards the end of senior year, when you know you know what you’re going to do after high school, you have everything planned out, and your only commitments and focuses are really just to get good grades in your classes and graduate, that becomes much more relaxing.
Yeah, do you feel pressured to have a clear plan after graduation,
I think there is pressure to have a plan after graduation, because most people generally do, but I think that pressure can be a good thing, because it’s like one of those good stresses that helps you get your homework done. You know, it’s a pressure to get your life figured out which is going to benefit you in the end.
How much more or how much does money influence your decision about what to do after graduation?
Money largely influences my decisions due to the fact that I am split between student loans and my parents paying for college. And there’s two sides to that. You know, I don’t want to have my own large financial burden when I get up college and to be paying that off for an extremely long time. And also, don’t my parents to be extremely burdened, especially with my siblings wanting to go to school. Wanting to go to college as well.
That’s what I’m doing, and that’s what he’s doing, actually. Yeah, a branch Marines army. Yeah.
Are you worried about paying for college or living expenses?
I wouldn’t say I’m worried about it, because I have a clear idea of what my future is going to look like, but I am not looking forward to it because I know there’s going to be hardship, there’s going to be a lot of money to pay, but I’m not worried about it. I understand what’s coming for sure.
Do your family’s expectations influence your plans for the future?
I would say yes, because ever since middle school, when you know grades and such started mattering and you got to pick your own classes. My parents high expectations for me led me down a path for a higher education, which has allowed me to be able to do things like go to a good college or be in good classes, have good grades and pursue my passions. For sure.
Have you ever felt the pressure to follow a certain path because of others?
I would say, yes, I first started taking AP classes, not because I was sure what they were, how they would benefit me, but because a lot of my friends were doing it, a lot of my very smart friends, so I sort of followed them into that. I didn’t want to be outsider. I wanted to be with him, but that was sort of the thing that pushed me into my current path, you know, following college and then engineering, sweet.
You want to what kind of engineer do you want to be in aerospace?
Oh, I’m a Lockheed.
Nice.
What does success mean to you? Personally,
most important question
to me, I imagine success as being in a position where I am very comfortable in my life. I’m able to support myself and my family, and I’m also able to do a job that makes me happy and fully utilize my mind. I see that as success, being able to use my knowledge and my brain for the better of the world and doing what I love, sweet and having a Corvette
