Diary of Amy Student

Throughout your high school experience, you’re told that this is all preparation for college or university and then eventually for a career. In your early grades, this seems like a distant future but once the end of grade 11 hits you realize that it’s all happening very fast and you have a lot of decisions to make in a far too short period of time.

While many people know exactly what direction they’re heading in and what they want to do, there is also a substantial amount of people who really don’t know, and it’s stressful. It’s a major decision that will have a long lasting impact on the rest of your life and most people feel the pressure.

Today a close friend said something to me that summed up exactly how most people feel. “It’s hard because I don’t want to make the wrong choice”. Making the wrong choice can be expensive, and, most importantly, can force your life into an entirely new direction than you’d like. You’re scared that what you get into won’t make you happy or that there won’t be any jobs available and you won’t have an income. You’re scared that you’ll disappoint your parents and the rest of the people you care about.

When you start your last year of high school, a big part of you is excited. Thirteen previous years of schooling has all led up to this and the rest of your life is about to begin. However, if you’re anything like myself or people I’ve talked to, a large part of you is also completely terrified. You can feel the pressure as soon as you walk through the doors, and your future becomes a common part of conversation. You’re constantly asked things like “So, what are your plans for next year?”, “Have you applied yet?”, and of course, “What do you want to do with your life?” and while to some these questions are easy and answering them is second nature, to others it’s near impossible because they really have no idea.

The pressure is on. It’s time to really grow up. And while it’s scary and difficult, it’s exciting at the same time and everyone goes through it. Big decisions need to be made and there’s no way to get around it. You just have to hang in there, go along for the ride and take life as it comes.

(Written September 2014)