As high school seniors, one might consider this point in our academic careers the most important of all; the very few months in which every individual decision we make helps to shape the future that we will soon live in.
With every supplemental we write and every application we fill, we feel our future coming closer into our grasp. We feel the possibility of so many different outcomes surging through our veins—and most of all, the possibility for things to change in an instant.
Slowly, as people around us begin to commit to the school that they will attend for the next four years, or confirm which job or trade school they will pursue, our futures become more clear. We will be done at Malden High School in just six short months.
And then, just like that, we will be let out into the world. Honestly, when I look towards that day in the future, I cannot help but be scared of what comes my way. Will everything that I have done throughout my life be enough to prepare me for the future that lies ahead of me?
Unfortunately, there is no way to know if you are truly prepared until you are thrown into the deep end and have to see whether or not you can make it through to the surface.
Even now, as I sit here writing this editorial, I have fears when it comes to my future; I have no idea where I will end up. And because none of my college results have come back yet, I might not know for a while.
But as I continue to fill out applications, I cannot help but worry that maybe I am not going in the right direction. Maybe college is not for me. Maybe the major I have chosen is not for me. It is hard to know at this point in our lives, how the decisions that we make now will have an effect on our lives in the future.
In fact, with every additional application that we fill out, we become more and more overwhelmed with the prospects of our futures, overthinking how many things we should have done differently from the very beginning of freshman year until now.
However, the one thing that has kept me and many others sane is the realization that things will turn out okay no matter what. No matter what happens now, no matter what decisions I make, and no matter what things do not go as planned, I will end up where I need to be.
We will all end up where we need to be as long as we do our best to make our dreams happen. Although it may be hard to comprehend it now in our current situations, we will be okay in the future and be able to look back at this time in our lives that allowed for our growth and enjoyment with peers.
Now, when everything seems to be uncertain, the one thing that we know for sure is that we are leaving Malden High School with at least a small sense of what we want to do with the rest of our lives, even if our paths are not 100% figured out.
When you look back on high school and your last few months, you want to be able to look back with a sense of both accomplishment and satisfaction. You want to be able to say that you made the most of your time with those you love.
So try something new, make new friends, and have the high school experience of your dreams. There’s only so much you can do in four years, so make sure that you make every moment and memory count.
When I look back on high school, I will know that I made the most out of my time. I grew so much as a person over the past four years and made so many friendships that I know will last me a lifetime. When reflecting on my time here, it is safe to say that not only did I learn so much, but I was able to laugh, cry, and be happy in the comfort of my peers.
In the next few months, I have made a vow to myself to go outside with my friends and try new things like ice skating, karaoke, and playing sports in order to do my best at making as many memories as I can. With only a few months left, it’s so important to make these last few months feel special by spending time with our loved ones and making fun memories at school, outside with friends, and most significantly at prom.
So, as you submit your next college application, do not forget that no matter what happens, the next couple of months will not dictate the rest of your lives. There will always be the option to grow, change, and redirect your life. And though it may be hard with adulthood creeping up so close behind us, remember to make the most out of these next few months, make memories that you know you will want to cherish for the rest of your life.
