TRANSITIONING FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO COLLEGE

As young people, most of us like to resist change. We get so comfortable with our current lifestyle that we can’t imagine what another way of life will be like. Most students in high school are dependent on our parents for a lot of things in our livelihood, so the thought of being our own “support system” can be stressful for most of us. How our parents raised us, as well as the hardships we’ve experienced, is a big contribution to who we have become as individuals. When you think about life on your own without parents, some may see nothing but relief and freedom, while others may crumble because they can’t picture life without them. No matter your feelings, your parents will still always be a part of you. What they have taught you in your life, can continue to influence you throughout your own journey. In high school, it’s important to take the time to focus on your individualism. At the end of the day, you are going to have to grow up and learn to be the independent person you need to be for this next chapter of your life.

In college, a student can learn more than just a formal education. You can find the independence that you need. One way college students learn to be independent is by managing time. Many high school students might get their time managed by their parents, such as when to wake up, when to eat, and when to get homework done. Once in college, you can no longer rely on your parents for structure, rules, or academic motivation. Your parents aren’t going to be there for you with these things now, so you have to rely on yourself. Growing up is realizing that you see your family less often, your parents are getting older, you don’t get to talk to your friends as often as you’d like, holidays aren’t exciting as they used to be, there are always things to be done at home, being tired becomes part of your personality, you may never reach the goals you set as a child, and your best may not be enough. Your “kid life” is going to be over in college and that’s something you will have to accept and should start expecting now. You need to focus on yourself, better yourself, and do all the things that will help you become an adult. You aren’t going to have people baby you, like you may be used to, in college. High expectations and standards are going to be set for you and that’s why discovering yourself now is so important. At your college, there will be people from different backgrounds, age groups, cities, states, and sometimes different countries. It’s not going to be the small town that you are used to where everybody knows everybody. It’s going to feel like you were placed on a whole new planet, with new people, and you are going to have to adapt, rediscover yourself, and form friendships all over again. Friendships that may never be like your high school bonds. Some friendships may stay intact, while most of these people, you will never see again. From hanging out every day to catching up with each other every now and then on social media, It’s a difficult thing to think about. 12 years of seeing the same people, forming connections, and building relationships with the staff, just to have all this go away and start all over again.

Instead of stressing over things that will or may happen in the future, start focusing on what’s right in front of you which would be the soon lost friendships and the lasting memories you can create right now. Many of us have an idea on what we want to do with our lives, but how often is this visual picture 100 percent accurate? Hardly ever. Some days you are going to deal with little waves in the ocean, while others it’s going to feel like you were hit by a tsunami. All these bumps in the road can change a lot of things when it comes to your future, so you shouldn’t stress over something that isn’t going to be exactly how you imagined it would be. In your journey, you will have some situations that are temporary and some situations that are meant to be learned from, which if you don’t have the strength to walk away from these things, it may be detrimental; this is when you will be destroyed internally in the long run. Destroyed physically, emotionally, and mentally.

If you still don’t know what you want to do with your life after high school, that is okay. You still have time, but you should still continue living in the moment and learn to be independent. When you do find your purpose, you’re already steps ahead of yourself. You don’t want to be that high schooler when it comes May, you're still relying on your parents to do everything for you. You need to grow up and take responsibility for determining the right paths to get you where you want to be in your future. You should be able to look back on your high school years and be proud of what you accomplished on your own and how far you came. Your high school memories are memories that will be with you your entire life, so living in the moment and making the most of this last semester before you enter the real world is something to be appreciative of.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF:

JACKSON HALL

DESIGN EDITOR:

MCKENZIE

COLLINSWORTH

MANAGING EDITOR:

RILEY SUMPTION

MEDIA MANAGER:

SOPHIA LOGSDON

PHOTOGRAPHY:

LAUREN STEPHAN

ALYSSA DAVIS

ADVISOR:

NATALIE TANNEHILL

CATHERINE SMITH

SOPHIA SALEY

NINA SUMMERS

IZZY SCOTT

JULES BEYES

STAFF:

KAYLIE DUSKEY

KODY HUNTER

LAUREN LEEMASTER

LILLIAN BAER

LINDSEY REY

NATE CARR

ERIC WOLFORD

MARKO KULINA

The newspaper staff will make every reasonable effort to verify quotations in final approved copy with the individual(s) quoted, in interest of accuracy Copy in the newspaper will bear bylines when, in the opinion of the adviser with the editor’s approval, the writer has earned recognition and running the byline is acceptable journalistically If a newspaper editorial does not bear a byline, it reflects the opinion of the entire staff. A bylined editorial reflects only the opinion of the writer

Viewpoints expressed in newspaper editorials are not necessarily shared by any members of the faculty (including the adviser), the administration, or the board of education.

All letters to the editor of the newspaper must be signed for verification purposes, but the staff may withhold names upon request. Because of space limitations letters of 300 words or less will receive preference, and longer letters may be subject to condensation with the cooperation of the writer The final decision of whether to print a letter rests solely with the staff.

Editorial Policy Contact

tannehillnatalie@

OLIVIA PENNINGTON

RHIANA BRUCE

RYAN MUELLER

SELENA SABBAGH

SKYLAR JOHNSON

TAYLOR MCCARTY

NINA MCANNALLY

VIENNA HORVATH