Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” The message he is trying to convey with this is to encourage people to take life slowly and not rush into things. As a senior, this can seem unattainable, with the deadlines for college applications and essays, résumés, and letters of recommendation. Life becomes stressful under constant pressure to complete these while still battling classwork. Thankfully, at the high school, students receive personal support from teachers and have access to the best recommended resources and advice.
For graduation, one must complete the Xello junior and senior lessons, a résumé, a job shadow, two letters of recommendation (one from outside the school and one from a teacher), and a personal essay. Kaelynne Blood, senior, said, “Before learning about graduation requirements, I was stressed for senior year; it’s a lot. Obviously, the high school does prepare us a little bit. However, it doesn’t fully prepare you for what’s mentioned until senior year. It’s a lot to think about on top of picking a college.” For some, this is overwhelming, not even considering those taking AP and advanced classes, as well as the high number of students involved in activities and clubs. Adding all of these together, it’s a recipe for late nights, rough, demanding afternoons, and mental burnout. Because of this added pressure, the school makes an effort to assist those who ask.
Tom Kettmann, junior and senior counselor, said, “If you are stressed about it, come and communicate; we can find alternate ways.” The staff is actively committed to guiding and supporting the students. He said, “We can have each of those things done within an hour.” The help relieves any added stress one may experience throughout senior year. One should reach out if these requirements are hindering their focus and mood. However, some students also have a feeling that these necessities are mentioned too late and wish they were emphasized in earlier years.
Blood said, “I didn’t know that we were required to turn in letters of recommendation or a résumé to the school. I knew that there were certain things, but it wasn’t clear till this year.” While some believe these were brought up a little short, some essentials are started in school. For example, one’s résumé is drafted in sophomore English classes, and at the beginning of the quarter, the school reserves mentor classes for the first couple of days to help tackle the Xello lessons. Additionally, job shadows are introduced in the 10th grade and are accentuated prominently throughout high school, and classes like Teen Insights, Career Readiness, and Sophomore Advanced English highlight personal essays. Though these are completed and highlighted, it may be best to reiterate them further.
Although these needs may seem unnecessary, they are state requirements and can’t be overlooked. One may ask why, but it’s simply that it is better prepared for life after high school, whether that entails college, trade school, workforce, or a gap year. So if one is stressed about these potentially sudden essentials, reach out to staff who are more than willing to help.
