Many high school seniors understand the pressure that is faced in senior year. It is the time when the transition into building your future must be planned. Many are excited for this transition because it ensures freedom from the routine high school days. However, preparing for this transition opens eyes to the vast amount of options post high school which can be stressful.

When leaving high school seniors are presented with many options as to what they plan to do for their future. It seems the common trend is to seek higher education at college, whether it is a community college or university. Seniors Gabrielle Lazo and Nick Leen are following this trend by planning on college as a part of their post high school plan.

Nick Leen has his plan set as he plans to attend the University of Colorado studying film to obtain a degree. Another student of Central Kitsap High School, senior Gabrielle Lazo also plans to attend college. Though she is unsure which college to attend she has an idea for what she wants to do; “…earn a bachelor’s degree in either bioengineering or mechanical engineering (maybe both).”. Many seniors can relate to both Nick and Gabrielle’s paths of knowing what to do or still be weighing their options of where to go for college.

Though many have been focusing in on higher education some find that jumping directly into a career is what will work best for them in planning for the future. They may get a head start by joining work programs during high school and continuing that career after high school.

Mr. Hunt, the career center teacher of Central Kitsap High School, provided some insight into what his post high school plan was like. “We didn’t have to have a plan in high school for graduation but my plan was to become an automotive mechanic and I followed it. I did some automotive schooling at Shoreline Community college then went off and I was working at Renton Honda. I made a career of it then decided to go back to school. It opened doors but it wasn’t my long term plan.”. Just like Mr. Hunt, some seniors might decide learning a trade skill fits best for them at the moment.

When asked about how successful the High School and Beyond plans for graduation are Mr. Hunt didn’t have any specific data due to his short time teaching in the career center, however he did have some supportive words for anyone who is or will be creating a High School and Beyond plan; “My hope is that they think critically about what it is they are doing and what’s out there and explore. I don’t care if plan A is followed, I just want them to know what plan A looks like and explore that and what does plan B look like and explore that and what does plan C look like so they learn the process of figuring out what is out there.”.

The saying ‘senior year flies by’ is true which may make it seem like the process of planning post high school ten times more stressful however, the most important thing to keep in mind is the options as well as support available during this planning process. Many other seniors are facing similar obstacles which ensures you are not alone.