There is a problem with expectations that have lasting effects for many freshman and seniors. While “this will be the best year of your life” sounds like a nice thing to say, I’ve seen this sentiment hurting the way students view their lives.
As a senior and as a freshman, I haven’t talked to a single person who was happy all year round. And this makes sense, of course. When your whole life is changing, at times anyone would feel lost or overwhelmed. And while college (and your senior year of high school) on the whole are great years, it is important to acknowledge your humanity despite the stage you are in life.
Because of these high expectations, “these will be the best years of your life” is a problematic statement. So, when you tell people over and over that these are the perfect years of their lives, it results in many years of dishonesty. When students in their senior year fill with anxiety on what is ahead, and freshman stress about what is to come and if they are ready, many students have no one to turn to. Whether this is college or senior year of high school, it puts an unnecessary pressure that results in loneliness when the world is never as perfect as you expect it to be. There is this perception of the last time and the first time in everything are these magical moments but don't expect perfection because it leads to guilt.
So, what can you do? I think the most important thing we can do at all points and stages of our lives is to have an honest dialogue with those around us. To really make the mental health of those around us more bearable, we have to be more open with how we are feeling than the highlight reels that are the memories we share and pictures we post.
And to the students in the “best years of their lives,” just try to remember everything and take in the opportunities when you can.
No matter the year, try to live in the moment. But don’t put pressure on any period of your life. Just live it the best you can.
Don't live your senior year obsessed with living all of your “lasts” perfectly. Don’t live your freshmen year pressured into believing that this new chapter will determine the happiness of the rest of your life. Just live with gratitude of the memories you are making. This will lead you to living an amazing year. If you always strive to live with gratitude and always look forward to what is to come, there is no longer any pressure or goals that need to be achieved. There are as amazing days to be thankful for as there are amazing days to come.
