Over the past months, the 2024 seniors are starting to make final decisions that will change their lives. These important decisions can lead them into their future careers with hopeful emotions, yet for some these decisions cause them to be stressed. No one talks about the pressing questions that are asked of our seniors. For example, “Where do you want to go to college?” Or “What do you want for the rest of your life?” For most 18-year-olds, that decision isn’t decided yet and probably won’t be until the end of the year when it’s college decision day.
According to college data, it says, “In a Yale University survey of high school students, almost 80 percent said stress was the feeling they experienced most often during a typical school day.”
This survey was focused on seniors in high school. And for more of their research explain why they might be stressed.
According to college data, it said, “The highest percentage of high school seniors we surveyed (58 percent) said that applying to college was the most stressful thing about senior year. These students found many aspects of applying to college stressful, including the usual suspects: writing essays and taking the SAT and ACT.”
Another stressor that may be overwhelming is sometimes overlooked. Yet, is a struggle for most families.
According to the same article, “While applying to college brings on plenty of stress, paying for it can be an additional and constant worry for some students, even long before they’ve made their college lists. As reported by College Board in its 2022-2023 annual survey of colleges, the high total price tag of college — averaging $27,940 at in-state public universities and $57,570 at private colleges – can spark anxiety for many students and families.”
With so much stress, most of them try to find ways to cope to make the process less worrisome.
According to the same article, “Most of our survey respondents reported that they reached out to other people in their lives to help them cope with senior-year stress. Almost 56 percent said they reached out to their friends; 55 percent to their parents or guardians; and 18 percent to teachers. However, almost 17 percent of survey respondents said they did not talk to anyone about the stress they experienced senior year.”
Even though the thought of life after high school is scary, the advice of others and different techniques may help reduce the stress high school seniors will eventually face.
“You’ll make it in the end. Until then, push through; you can do it,” an anonymous student said. “Take some time every day to do something nice for yourself so you don’t get consumed by work.”
