College Deadlines

Adorned in their caps and gowns the senior class waits eagerly to take their pictures. Photo Credit: Robyn King

As college deadlines are approaching I can not help but highlight this time in my life and in most of the senior classes lives. College always felt like a long way away, people would always tell you to start thinking about your future and the realities of what life will be like after high school. It doesn’t hit you until you see all your friends applying to colleges and all of a sudden you find yourself doing the same thing.

We know college isn’t the end all be all of everything. There are always other options, whether that’s learning a trade or joining the army. However, college is the reality for most students at Lincoln including myself. Someone count the number of times I say “college”.

Receiving a college acceptance letter for the first time was a conflicting experience. On the one hand, you just got into college! You did it! All the hard work you’ve done throughout high school and being recognized by a college of your choice feels amazing. You feel relief because you’re almost done but then you realize that you’re almost done.

It’s the same feeling I got when the class of 2024 received their graduation date or when I found myself making friends with underclassmen and realized, “Oh I’m not in 9th grade anymore.” I’m growing up. And for the most part that’s okay. There is more out there for me and for all of us. Yes, it is cheesy but it’s important.

I’m writing this for all seniors including myself. As we start this new chapter in our lives and continue through, that we remember it’s going to be alright. As we are approaching the last half of our high school experience I can’t help but think about how far away this all felt. I’d see the other classes graduate, shout out to the class of 2023 miss ya’ll, and I think to myself, “That’s not going to be here anytime soon” and suddenly it is. I accept that I can’t run away from it so you might as well just face it head-on. And it’s not like there isn’t a load of things to look forward to: the accomplishment of walking across the stage finally, decorating your caps, and partying ‘till you can’t feel your legs because for some reason you wore high heels. Those are the memories we should cherish and after all of this it is what we will remember.

All of us are destined for something, something amazing, and even when we leave Lincoln the world will have so much to offer us. But it’s scary. It’s so scary. But we won’t be alone, although it can feel isolating at times. Like a whirlwind of emotions; however, being able to find community in other people can make this whole college experience a lot less isolating. 

Finding ways to reach out and hang out even though we are all at the peak of our stress and busyness, checking in on people however that looks like to you, and taking time to relish and remember that we are all in the same boat and it’s up to us to keep each other afloat. Even past the scholarship and the deadlines making sure that we remember what’s important. Hold each other accountable. I hope that even with all of this pressure on yourself from family, counselors, or even teachers, we still try to remember each other.

Y’all stay safe!

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