More Than One Path: Navigating Life After High School

Contributor: William Stockdale, M.Ed

Senior year of high school is packed with so many unforgettable moments. Spirit Weeks, Homecoming, Football Friday Nights, and of course, Senior Prom. It's a time of celebration, nostalgia, and excitement as you prepare to close one chapter and step into the next. But amid the fun, one question will follow you like a shadow: “What’s next?”

For some, the answer might be crystal clear. For others, it’s a giant question mark. My advice? Take a breath. Don’t let the pressure of “figuring it all out” steal the joy from your final year. Instead, focus on one word: OPTIONS.

You’re not limited to one path. Whether you're entering the workforce, taking a gap year, enrolling in a technical or community college, or heading to a four-year university, your journey is valid. Your future is yours and can be whatever you want it to be!

Too often, people make choices to please others, meet expectations, or chase an image of success that doesn’t fit who they are. Explore. Ask questions. Try new things. Will your life pan out the exact way you plan? Of course not, and when it does, that’s not failure, but growth.

So, enjoy all that this year has to offer you. Most importantly, trust that wherever you're headed, you have time, you have support, and most of all, you have options.