By Acaila Eastman & Mateo Menjivar
Graduating from high school is a major milestone that brings a mix of emotions. There is excitement and a sense of relief that comes with the accomplishment. That accomplishment might be felt especially when reading “Congratulations” on a college acceptance letter or from receiving a diploma at graduation. On the other hand, there is also the realization that adulthood comes with new responsibilities that involve living on your own. Your next steps might involve living on your own, getting a job, and paying bills.
“It’s a difficult transition from high school to adult life because this is something that many of us weren’t worried about until it started creeping up from behind,” senior Krystal Pineda said. “All of a sudden after everything we’ve been through, such as the pandemic, we have to start becoming adults and move on, which is scary.”
Although it is natural to feel anxious about these changes, it is important to remember that everyone has to start somewhere. You’ll worry about whether or not you’ll be stable enough to continue life without as much help from your family. Although you’ve never done anything like this before, everything you’ve done leading up to this moment was brand new to you as well. You handled it then, and you’ll handle it now.
There are also resources available to help you navigate this transition. There are many online resources that you can use to help you find affordable housing as well as resources for mental health to help you cope with the stress of change.
With COVID-19 taking away much of our lives, many seniors feel behind in the growing-up process. Having lost over a year due to a worldwide pandemic, many students still feel the lack of social interaction that occurred during the world’s time-out. Many students feel they are struggling to catch up in terms of social and emotional maturity. It’s difficult for many of us to even comprehend that we’re graduating in less than two months.
COVID has just been announced as over; and now that all of us are 17 and 18-year-olds and expected to be adults, that is completely foreign to us. Think of it this way, everyone that has been our age has experienced these feelings, parents, siblings, cousins, etc. So, you aren’t alone in this very different process of growth. There is always someone to turn to because most, if not all, of the important people in our lives already know what it’s like to adapt to something scary and brand new.
Remember that stepping out on your own is never easy. However, it is a challenge that everyone faces at some point in their lives. No one stays a kid forever. With positivity, eagerness to learn, and perseverance through the ups and downs, you can make a successful transition into adulthood. So don’t worry too much about becoming an adult, just focus on the feelings of accomplishment and excitement.
The Plaid Press 