What Is Graduation?

            ​Graduation is considered to be one of the biggest days of your life. Whether you’re graduating high school or College, it is an important event. In my case, I am excited that I will be graduating High School in a couple of days. I’m excited about the fact that I no longer have to drag myself out of bed every morning, fight for parking in the High School student parking, and no more homework! At least for now.

            “I cannot wait to go to college!” is a phrase most highschoolers have been saying years before they even got to high school. Teenagers have spent our whole lives preparing for college and are ready to see the fruit of our work. Senior year has finally come around, and the topics of elaborate proms and senior trips are exciting. However, as high school rushes by and senior year comes to a close, the idea that we are about to graduate from high school really sinks in, that means BIG decisions.

            Even amid all of the buzz surrounding senior year, we are constantly thinking about what graduating really entails. “What college should I choose? Am I choosing the right major? What scholarships will I get? Will my friends and I still talk? Will I have enough money for college?” Always having these thoughts flow through our heads can be quite stressful and sometimes even panic-inducing. After a while, we might even start to doubt if we are truly prepared to go off to college. So, we ask ourselves, “Am I ready to take the next step?”

            It seems as if everywhere we go, we are faced with the question, “What college are you going to?” As we rack our brains for answers, we begin to get anxious, look around nervously, and possibly even turn red before we finally reply, “I’m still deciding” or “I’m not sure yet.”

One of the most bittersweet things about graduating is the fact that finding time to see friends may become scarce. It can be frightening to think about not being able to connect with friends after high school. “Will we ever hang out again?” is most likely a thought that has crossed every graduating senior’s mind. The good thing is, distance does not define loyalty, and a friend can be a friend whether they are 5 miles away or 1,000 miles away. A positive thing about going off to college is that new meaningful and lifelong relationships can be made.

Though preparing to graduate can be hectic, and there are still many questions and anxieties running through our minds, we can have confidence that it will all come together. God is faithful and is always there to walk us through our major and minor decisions. The search for colleges and universities and scholarships is a job, but it is a universal key to open many doors of opportunity. Seniors, and even parents, we are nearing the time to take the next step. Are we ready? We are indeed ready because;
 
“He steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he falls, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.” (Psalm 37:23-24)
 
In Christ,
 
Kaden Hunter
Technical Arts Department
Shepherd of the Hills, Greenville