Let's talk about graduating high school. Whether you went through it a few years ago, a few months ago, or are going to go through it within the next few years, most people graduate high school at one point in their life. But graduating high school is not as easy as one may think!
Many high school graduates spend most of their junior and senior years planning what they are going to do after they graduate. Whether that's applying to colleges or applying to jobs in your neighborhood, most people are forced to think about their future at some point during high school. When you finally receive your high school diploma, you think, "I can finally relax! No more high school stress!" But just when you think you're about to plop yourself down on the couch and never have to get up again, you start getting flooded with even more responsibilities.
Your college starts emailing you about meal plans, roommate surveys, medical forms, financial aid, registering for classes, etc. Or your work schedule comes in if you have a summer job. But one of the most common occurrences is when family members or other friends constantly hound you with the same questions, including: "What are you planning on majoring in?" or "What is your plan for then next few years?"
But I always think, how am I supposed to know what my plan is when I haven't even gone to college yet? How am I supposed to be prepared for my entire life after high school when I struggled to set up my college email?
Society expects you to grow up really fast after high school. Society expects us to shift from an adolescent to a decision making adult within the matter of months. Some people may see that as challenging, but others may see it as exciting. But whether you like it or not, it cannot be avoided.
If you are one of the people that is afraid of the struggles that come with growing up, here are three ways of how you can learn to embrace it:
1. Keep your friends and family close.
Most of your high school friends are feeling the same pressures that you are about growing up. Everyone is in the same boat! If you are ever feeling stressed about the new challenges of colleges or work, talk it out with your friends, or even plan a fun activity with them to de-stress yourself! The more effort you make to spend time with your family and friends, the more positive you will feel about making your own path in life -- because you know that you will always have them no matter what path you decide to take!
2. Don't rely on others for happiness.
I know this may seem to contradict the previous point about spending quality time with your friends. But in order to truly find confidence about growing up, you must find confidence in yourself first. At the end of the day, everyone has a different vision for themselves, and you are your own best friend. You should plan your goals based on what makes you happy and what you want to experience in life, instead of letting others choose your fate.
3. Live in the present moment.
People often spend too much of their time thinking about the future, or what's going to happen next after a day, a month, or a year. But if you learn to enjoy one day at a time, and embrace your emotions and interests in this current moment, then each day will go by quicker and smoother because you are no longer living in anxiety or anticipation.
So, whether you graduated high school recently, will graduate high school soon, or are even graduating college, don't let the quick shift from adolescence to adulthood scare you! Embrace the challenges of growing up as they come, and learn how to turn worries into hopes! And no matter what your plans are for the future, know that everything happens for a reason and you are right where you're supposed to be.
