Searcy, AR (LP) — Another school year coming to an end at Searcy High School. Class of 2022 are counting down the days to get handed the diploma they worked all their lives for. So many emotions go to a senior in high school because of the changes of becoming more of an adult. From sitting at a desk all day to buying a house, going to college, or even working 90 hours a week; Seniors are officially saying goodbye to their long four year study at Searcy High School. When it comes to taking the next step in life after high school most seniors don’t know how to react. In fact some don’t even know what they want to do with their life. With the fear of what real life really is some go and talk about what real life has brought them and how they take their next steps in life. Back in March of 2020 Covid-19 hit and schools were shut down for the rest of the year. Graduation for the seniors in 2020 didn’t get the full experience like every other graduation. Juanito Ruiz explains, “ The students were separated and graduated by their last name. And If you had passing grades in the first semester you wouldn’t have to do your second semester work.” So with everything going on all at once schools kind of just gave up on the school year because school has never been all at home and schools were not prepared at all. With the previous years coming up schools have had the option of in school or out. Since this schools have been keeping cautions but are now remaining open officially.
Seniors Andrew Tyler and Alma Aguilar are 2022 graduates of Searcy High School and talk about their emotions and what goes through their heads. Andrew Tyler explains, “ It’s bittersweet, really. I’m glad to have achieved thirds thus far but I’m also aware that I’ll likely never see many of the people with whom I’ve grown accustomed. With the exception of chance encounters and reunions.” While still feeling sad about leaving what Andrew worked hard for, for the past 4 hour years he still has dreams of going to ATU and will be majoring in pre -physical therapy. When coming out of high school you try to know everything that you need in adult life from knowing how to drive to knowing how to do taxes. Andrew Tyler states, “ As cliche as it sounds, I never really learned about taxes.” According to Everfi they quote, “ Nearly half of U.S. high school students say they do not know how to establish good credit, according to new research released today by EverFi.” A lot of senior students find it frustrating when it comes to taxes because many of them are not being taught how to do them. Fenny Castorena, a former student at Searcy High School says, “I feel since when I was in high school that taxes weren’t really talked about when it came to school. It was kind of like your parents teaching you that.” When it came to learning what we would need to know in adulthood a lot of students seemed to not know much but had to learn from parents. Alma Aguilar says, “ Even if I didn’t learn how to do my taxes or how to buy a house, I did learn many life skills and lessons. With time management and schedule organization.” When Seniors in high school plan after high school many think of college. While college is expensive with applying for scholarships students can get in for lower prices. Andrew explains, “ I’m going to ATU and working hard and taking every opportunity I could and it paid off. I applied for scholarships and got one.” Even though a lot of seniors feel they did not learn a lot of final things they did feel that even what they did learn paid off in the end. Andrew says, “I’m gonna miss it. Even after six years in Searcy, there are still many people in my grade and around school that I never got around to meeting.” When it is time for graduation a lot of seniors notice how fast time flies. Senior Kayla Raper says, “ I feel like I was just a small freshman walking around confused. Next thing you know I am walking across stage getting handed a diploma saying I’m good to go? It’s crazy, really, how fast time flies past you and you barely notice.” While graduation is a very emotional thing, so many seniors are so proud of themselves because even if it felt like those long hours at school or all that paperwork took forever to do it was all worth it in the end to them. A students next step is up to them, so maybe more mature than the other ones but no matter what if you accomplish one thing then go on and accomplish two maybe even three. Move on from high school and find the path you were meant to take. Even if that is to work at Sonic for the rest of your life. Enjoy it. You can think back to all your favorite high school memories and how many times you snuck into class without the teacher noticing. High school created so many memories and gave us fun people to meet on the way. Take that and push it towards your career. Do your Next’s step that you wanna take in life after high school.
Graduation is an emotional time for mostly every student. With graduation Seniors are let out of school a couple weeks early for graduation and getting all seniors grades in so they can get their diploma. Although not every school does let seniors out a couple weeks early, every school has graduation in which they are giving their diploma. Alma Aguilar says, “ I hated having to say goodbye to my fellow classmates. But how graduation was, it was really an amazing way to say goodbye in my opinion.” Graduation is celebrated for the students that have successfully met the academic and extracurricular requirements for graduation. Seniors know what it feels to put tears and time into school. When graduating it’s a scary thing to have to do for some because they are leaving behind a place that helped them grow up and learn more for life. A pro a lot of students see it the freedom of College. After high school many students go to college. When students go to college they see that college seems a lot like high school but less rules. With having to keep up with your own time management to staying up with your class. It’s up to you. Many colleges do let you pick when you go in, what classes you want, and how many classes you want. But with more privilege’s comes more responsibility on you. You’re paying the school to teach you. So if you are late, no refund because you decided to be late. No matter what a student does after high school they move on in life. They enter adult hood and are then pilled on with bills, work, and family. Even though it sounds horrible and it might be you still got to live up your high school career. Challenges will always come up in the way, from everything in the everyday life. You just have to learn that not everything is bad. Back when Covid- 19 effected everyone in the world especially school districts, schools didn’t know what to do because school was not supposed to be permanently from home. When schools made it official to come back to school graduation has became so much easier for students and staff. Students are earning their diplomas and although not every student knows what their next step will be they earned what they need and that is what makes them proud of themselves. Saying goodbye is not easy when the peers you have seen everyday of every year since you were 12 years old are now just faces painted in the back of your head clear as day. Now from fellow classmates to becoming doctors to working at your neighborhood Walmart. Everyone goes up and joins adulthood at some point in life. Once handed that diploma it is your choice what your next step is.
