To the high school senior with no future plans yet,
First off, don't stress about it.
College is supposed to make getting a job easier but if you don't want two or four more years of school that's fine. Try and make good impressions on family friends and maybe they can help you get an entry-level position in their company or workplace.
Don't be afraid of the future. It's not going to bite, hard, but you need to be ready if it does. Try and make a few plans in order to change your future.
One plan could involve going to college. Finding community colleges near you is simple but maybe they do not have the degree plan you want. General Education (Gen Eds) courses are usually better if you take them in community colleges because they're cheaper and typically have smaller student/teacher ratios.
Another plan could be to travel. You need to decide where you want to go, how you get there and who you are going with. Save as much money as you can while you are still in school. Set up a plan that enables you to save a certain percent after every paycheck. Make a goal to save a certain amount of money by the summer, or the winter, whenever you want to take your trip.
Another plan could be to join the workforce early. It is similar to asking family friends for jobs but this one is you applying for random entry-level jobs and taking what you can get. A job at McDonald's can be the first step to having a managerial position and moving further up. You can still be successful if you start low in the corporate food chain. Just think, James Franco and Rachel McAdams both worked at McDonald's starting out but now they're celebrities.
Not having a plan for your future is a plan. It is not necessarily the plan to getting rich and living a life worth living but it's something. Maybe you like living on the edge and seeing what you can overcome when life throws a curveball at you.
Saving money is the ultimate contingency plan when it comes to the future. Money doesn't buy happiness but it buys apartments and warm beds which are almost the same.
Not having a plan yet isn't going to set you back 20 years, it's going to stress you out and make you think irrationally. Breath, ask your parents for help, start saving money or gather applications for college. It's never too late to go.
If you're worried about scholarships and how to pay for college then you need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as you and your parents are able. It can make a world of difference between having $20,000 in tuition and the college giving you $1,000 for attending their school.
Don't stress out about high school graduation. Don't stress out about college graduation. Think about what you want to do in life and research how you can get there.
