Taking the Big Leap
By Cindy, age 17, Texas
Sweet Designs Featured Writer
If you're in high school, then you've heard or seen the word 'college' plastered across brochures, classrooms, and in the counselor's office. In a way, it follows you through the halls, classrooms, and everywhere. You become more aware of college during your junior and senior year. And then comes the time when you're a senior and preparing to head off into that distant world. Into that higher education you spent so many hours studying for so that your GPA could rise and you could attain that coveted rank.But after you move past the stressful and time consuming applications for college admissions, you find yourself in the second semester of your senior year. All of a sudden, you realize you're not going to stay confined to the safety of home and school. Nope. Because college means another world. Other rules to abide by.
So how in the world do we cope with the transition from high school to college?
Personally, I'm in that position right at this moment. I'm thinking that college is years away from happening, when in fact it's only a couple of months away. Even worse, I'm actually planning to leave home and go off to college. I don't even have an idea of how I'm going to handle life on my own. I've been so used to the routines of home, school, and outside that I wonder how I can flow through this transition easily.
After thinking and talking to a couple other people, I realized that there's really no perfect way to go from high school to college. Sure, you definitely need to prepare, make arrangements, and manage time. Everyone who has been through college stresses the fact that you need to manage your time. If you're going to be on your own, no one's going to be telling you to wake up at this certain hour and when to finish your homework. You're all alone and you need to be responsible.
Meanwhile, as you depart from high school, the place of happiness or dreadfulness, try to make memories. You'll never return to those halls, to those lockers, or see many of the people from your classes. Try to embrace the spirit of being a senior and cherish every moment. You don't want to look back and regret something that you could have done.
Before you head off to college, figure out ways to keep in touch with your parents and friends. Find out your mode of transportation to wherever you go. Search your college website and check out what current students have to say. But most importantly, live in the moment and make memories you'll never forget. Only this way can you actually smooth the transition from high school to college. After all, you're becoming an adult and beginning one of the most important chapters of your life.