It’s getting close to the end of the school year, and as seniors approach the biggest crossroads in their lives so far, stress levels and anxiety are at an all time high. Between choosing a career, college, or whatever else, decision-making is commonplace for those about to graduate. Not uncommon is the idea that teenagers aren’t mature enough to make big life decisions, but is it truly that they can’t; or is it more that they shouldn’t have to?
Sometimes it can feel overwhelming for students at this time of the year, especially for those who intend to further their education at a university. Applying for college, scholarships, and loans creates a confusing atmosphere for these students, and many of their already busy lives become even more stressful.
For example, a student athlete is expected to go to school for 7 hours every day, have a 2-3 hour practice, and if they have other extracurriculars such as band, work, or NHS, their time becomes quickly eaten up by these activities. Why is it then that we let these overworked and burnt out students make decisions that will change the course of their lives forever? Is 17 or 18 really the age where a person becomes mature enough to have their life planned out?
Honestly, no. While these students have been through alot, there are too many distractions in athletics, social life, and elsewhere for students to fully imagine where they want their lives to go. Not only that, but their idea of what they want to do with their life is likely to change in the near future. In fact, about 80% of college students end up switching their majors at least once. It’s obvious that it is far too optimistic to think that a student in high school will know what job they want to do in the future with absolute certainty. About 40% of the workforce in America is unhappy with their career choice, and that choice began when they were in highschool.
For all of the high school students who are reading this, don’t expect to have your life figured out before you graduate. You may have a vague idea of what interests you and what you want to fill your time with but don’t feel pressured to make a colossal decision that could have significant consequences in your future. There is no shame in taking a gap year to figure your life out or just enter the workforce to get a better grasp on what you want to do. All in all, the idea that you absolutely must know what you want to do at 17 or 18 years old is extremely outdated, and it’s alright to be a little apprehensive about your future.
