By Megan Guerrero

Fear, dread, and anxiety are often the “status quo” of feelings before graduation. Excitement and positivity are something that have to be “earned” once you actually graduate or move on to the next chapter of your life. When young people express excitement about graduating, they’re often met with skepticism. Adults tend to question that excitement assuming it stems from naivety, an overly optimistic worldview, or a lack of understanding about the realities of adulthood.

What many of our elders misunderstand is that my peers and my generation are more than ready to graduate in comparison to previous generations. We are in an age of endless information, and a culture that promotes supporting others in their careers and academic pursuits. There are countless accounts and communities dedicated to providing college, career, and personal wellness advice. We are more prepared for this transition than generations before us. We have online spaces dedicated to sharing advice about college, careers, and personal wellness. We have access to real-world knowledge at our fingertips.

At Granada Hills Charter (GHC), it’s clear that the majority of students, regardless of how well they did in high school, have a plan – 99 percent of students to be exact. According to the GHC 2024-2025 school profile, 65 percent of students are admitted into four-year universities, 32 percent are accepted at community colleges, and 2 percent are accepted into trade school or enlist in the military.

Despite the high number of students who have a plan, that doesn’t mean we are free of the burdens typically associated with graduating high school. The fear of the unknown, financial stress, and the challenge of navigating the world without parents or teachers watching over us every step of the way are all still very real.

For every career path listed, there are statistics supporting their downsides and risks. For the community or trade school route, for instance, California Community Colleges reports that those with associate’s degrees make $48,200, falling short of a liveable salary in California which is $56,825. Student loan debt in the U.S. has grown to $1.777 trillion, impeding millions of Americans’ financial security. Those who chose trade schools worry about career growth and flexibility, while those who go to the military worry about their physical and mental well-being and life after discharge.

Still what sets us apart is not that we are exempt from these challenges, but that we are aware of them, and more importantly, equipped to face them. Those older than us, whether it be someone who graduated from 2020 or 2005, openly share their past financial, career, and personal-life mistakes and what choices not to make in our young adulthood. In the past, it was taboo to discuss roadblocks in our life, and a more carefree or “pretend everything is fine” attitude was taken. Today we have the ability to access honesty, transparency, and the resources in order to thrive in our lives once we graduate.

We are not entering adulthood blindly. We are walking into it with open eyes. We are aware, informed, and determined to thrive.