Post -HIGH SCHOOL Crisis

[Anonymous]

I guess I'm either an early bloomer or my life is gonna be kinda short, cause I'm having my qlc NOW and I'm only 18. In fact, I think there is probably a bigger problem where I'm from with recent HS grads trying to figure their futures out. I know of only a handful of people in my graduating class who are actually going straight to a 4-yr college with a major already decided. I myself opted for community college and have been doing that for a year and am still "figuring it out". The problem, I think, is that suddenly we are able to make all our own decisions, do pretty much whatever we want, and we just don't know what to do with that. My best friend is getting married because she doesn't have any better ideas. I'm discovering that my place in high school as "Daria" is not a place you can have in the real world. Fortunately I HAVE discovered that I have a talent for writing, and I'm going to try an English major. I think finishing high school is a bigger deal -- college grads have already decided what they want for their careers. They can jump into a job with their degrees. Working at K-mart and taking random general courses at the local community college is a different story. ~Sarah in VA

[Remarkable]

Hey--you're actually on the right track and may be able to prevent a qlc when you reach 25.

When I graduated from HS in '94, I wasn't exactly thinking about what would happen when I was 25--which I will be in less than a month. I was like, "I'm free. No one can tell me what to do. I'll deal with it later, etc..." I have actually been at Community College so long, I have 3 Associate Degree's and 3 Certificates!! but no Bachelor's Degree, which I think is much harder to get later in life. Hopefully, I will end up getting mine, it's just that working and going to school are somewhat draining and you really have to be motivated, which is something I'm lacking right now.

Now, maybe if I had taken the time to think about the future (which you're doing--good!), I'd be better off than I am now-going crazy and wondering just what exactly I am going to do the rest of my life while other people my age are in great careers, buying houses, getting married, etc....

I know I can't really help you, because you have to help yourself and learn from your mistakes--I truly believe that. People were always trying to give me advice and I was like, "Whatever..you're old, what do you know!" I reeeeeally wish I would've have listened.

Good luck--chances are you're already far better off at 18 than I am at 24 and 11 months!!

[Kelly]

Hey,
I understand. I also felt like that out of highschool. That feeling will go away....your senior year. /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif Once you have college figured out it's time to move on...again. You are however completly doing what you are supposed to be doing. Don't be in any rush to graduate, and try hard not to miss class. I'm serious. If I went to more of my classes I would have done so much better. Just think long and hard about what you want, and when you feel like you can do it, do it. If you change your mind, it's okay. Never stick around your hometown for some guy or some friends, because one day you will look around and realize that no one is there anymore. Best Luck to you.

[Anonymous]

Sarah in VA...

Graduating HS is a huge transitional period -the beginning of QLC (which I think spands several years) - whether you like it or not, everything is going to change. Its overwhelming, isn't it? Friends will move away (and in your case get married!) and come back as different people. You will change. I think that's the hardest part. In just two years, can hardly recognize my former self. I see the former-me in the eyes of those that knew me in HS, when I run into them on the street, in my old home town. They see me as the person I was back then, not the person I am now. My 2 cents of advice? Accept the changes in your life; don't fight it. Grow.

Good luck with the English major! (I'm one myself!)

[cowgirl69]

I'm 22 and STILL trying to figure out what I want to do!! When I graduated high school I wanted to be a psychologist but didn't want to spend 12 years in school, so I switched back to special ed, I had a job in that area and it basically sucked having to deal with the staff there, so I went to elementary ed where it would be easier. Now I'm taking time off school so I can really try to figure out what the hell I want to do, I'm still kind of at a toss up between the two education fields. Hopefully sometime I can get this all straightened out here!