Use Your Voice To Expand Your Social Circles

Right now, seniors across the country and more specifically, seniors at Highland are focused on life after high school. Adult life is approaching and there is no single right path.
Leading up to this point there had always been a set plan to follow, elementary school then middle school then high school. There wasn’t a choice, and being a grown-up wasn’t a concern as it was way far in the future.
However, that’s no longer the case for the class of 2026. We’re graduating in the next six or so months and there isn’t anybody telling us exactly what to do next, which can be scary.
Growing up is scary but it’s also exciting. Yes, there is uncertainty regarding the future, but there’s also an infinite amount of opportunity for growth.
This excitement and fear leading up to graduation, leaving high school, and life post-graduation is comparable to what we are experienced leading up to high school. Thinking about high school was stressful as middle schoolers but we did it and we can do this too.
Personally, I loved 8th grade and was worried about how high school would be different. I was worried about navigating a big school, not knowing people in my classes, and maintaining my grades that would now “count.” Although I was scared, I was able to get past my fear. I jumped into high school, joined two teams, and gave it a chance. And I’m glad I did because my high school experience changed me in a lot of ways – good and bad. I’m a very different person than I was four years ago. The things I care about have changed a lot, and they will continue to develop as I move on to the next stage of my life.
So, while I know this next leap forward will be scary and stressful, I’m excited for it, and I don’t think I’m alone in that.
If you were to ask the Highland seniors what their biggest focus is right now, most of them would likely say college applications.
We are currently in the midst of college application season; a lot of students are focused on getting in to the schools they want to go to. Most seniors apply to more than one place, a mix of in-state and out-of-state schools. This isn’t uncommon, especially here in Utah.
There’s a lot of like-mindedness in Utah, so going to college out-of-state is a common path people take to escape Utah’s bubble. However, it’s also important to note that not everyone is privileged enough to apply to or attend college out-of-state. But those who can go to an out-of-state school take the opportunity to branch out, experience something new, and gain exposure to more diverse perspectives.
It also doesn’t have to be the Utah bubble that you’re leaving; it can be your own personal bubble that you find yourself in.
What matters is expanding your horizons. Leaving your bubble is so important because of the growth and development you experience when you do. It doesn’t have to be through college either; it can be through simply switching up your social circles or moving to a new place later in life or something else. What is important is that you get past the fear of leaving your bubble because there is so much to experience beyond your bubble.
Regardless of the path you choose, you’re in for a lot of change. Change that will help shape you into the person you become. After all, the first eighteen years of life are just the beginning.