Words of wisdom for a HS grad?

I graduated high school on Sunday.  I expected to be happy and sad.  In mourning of the loss of my high school years, and the excitement of new experiences to come in college.

But I am confused as to why I am feeling the way I do now.  I feel apathetic.  I am not happy (except over not having to take an hour long bus-ride to school), and I am not sad (except over leaving a good teacher, but I'll be seeing her soon as we are friends). I am just BLAH.

I don't care.  I don't see why it is such a big deal to graduate high school. Nothing is changing for me except the institution of study. I am not leaving home, I am going to a community college.  I am not leaving the town, moving out, packing to go anywhere, OR ANYTHING! I don't get all of the excitement on everyone's Myspace pages, and on facebook.  I feel apathetic.

 The only emotion that I have now, is frustration for not having the money to go to a real college.  I would have loved to go to a 4-year uni, but no way could I have afforded it.  I don't want to explain, but I am struggling to pay my way to a college that is $3,000 a year, no way I could have afforded $16,000 a year.   I just feel defeated because I can not go to the college I worked my butt off to go to.  All because of MONEY.  This just sucks.

Any words of wisdom?

yeah no money bites but at least you are doing the best with what you got - thats all you can do.

maybe just focus on doing well where you are at and try saving some money, theres always next year.

dont let the bitterness ruin your day-to-day - find the joy with what you have. i know that sounds trite but i was feeling where you at for years, and you gotta get yourself through it. positive attitide works wonders.

dont rule out that other college btw, maybe you can go there as a junior and senior. no shame in community college either, thats the only way i could even take classes when i was working full time and raising kids. i transferred to UT Austin eventually. it took me 18 years to ger my BS in geology. best thing i ever did. hardest thing i ever worked at in my life. but i wanted that degree and nothing was gonna stop me.

i finished in 2000. its so nice to not have to buy box mac-n-cheese and store-brand toilet paper or drive a $500 car anymore lol.

I know how you feel.  I dont have any money either and Ive been living at home and going to school for the past 3 years.   I definately dont think its necessary to move away to a big school first few years of school.  My older sister rushed to move away from home and ended up being completely poor, became completely depressed and flunked out of school. 

I know I felt like a total loser when I was the only one in my class staying close to home, but I also know that many of my high school friends who initially went far away for college have moved back home and decided to go to the school closest to their hometown.    Im not saying that you would be the same way, but it may be a blessing in disguise that you cant go to a 4 year school just yet.  

In the long run you'll probably be very happy that you didnt spend 16,000 dollars a year paying to take Calculus 1 or English 1 (typical General Ed requirements).    I actually got accepted into The University of Miami when I applied back in high school and I got 17,000 dollars worth of scholarships.  UM, however, costs 50,000 dollars a year, so I wouldve had to pay 33,000 dollars out of my own pocket each year.   At first I was bummed that I couldnt afford to go to UM, but looking back on it, Im so glad I didnt go there.  I have spent these past few years of college being completely confused about my major and taking a million basic, gen ed classes.  Im also going to have to do a 5th year of school because I changed my major so much.   At my cheap state school, its not that big of a deal that I floundered a little bit.   If I were at UM, I would still have taken the same types of classes and still be just as confused, except I'd be 99,000 dollars in debt on top of that.  

Now Im a little older, much more mature (its weird how feeling so low about life can actually make you a better person) and Im much more secure with myself.   Ive decided that its now worth it to go live on campus at my state school.  I can handle it now and Im ready for it.   Im taking out loans to pay for it, but I know that it'll be a good investment since Im prepared for it now.

First of all congratulations. Whether you feel like it or know it now education is the key to success today. Without it you would struggle the rest of your life. Community College is great. Don't think about what you can't do think about what you can do. Focus on getting the most out of college you can. Take every opportunity to participate and get involved and get any education you can.

It is normal to feel like you do. Things will change, feeling will change, goals will change, your life will change. Just enjoy each day and focus on what you have and be grateful for that. You never know what good things are in store for you. Things change in an instant, you meet new people, get the opportunity to see new places. You just never know. You are young and have your whole life ahead of you.

I felt the same way when graduating from high school, and university graduation festivities didn`t move me at all.

It`s not that I am insensitive, I do miss the good times and some people I don`t get to see as much. And I will sometimes be very happy or very sad about the end of different stages in my life. I just have my own moments, settings and ways in which I reminisce.

For instance, people expect you to cry on graduation day. For me it doesn`t work like that. If it happens that I am in a melancholic mood right then and there, I won`t hold it in. But if I`m not, I see no point in faking it, and I will most likely burst into tears a week later when I hear a song on the radio which reminds me of a great party we had, or something of the likes.

I'm still in that situation and I graduated last year.

I didn't really give a crap either. It didn't come as a shock to me though, I hated high school. Obviously being overweight didn't help much during the most awkward years of my life. Also because I knew I'd keep in touch with my real friends and didn't have to see the others I stopped connecting with anyway.

I'm not in the best situation financially either. Luckily, the community college here has a pretty good, even improving, reputation.

Good luck though. No doubt you must be feeling a little lost and down right now. Just keep going. Enjoy life.

i felt that way when i graduated high school, too.  you know why?  because it really isn't a very big deal.  high school is more rite of passage than accomplishment, so i wouldn't worry about the fact that you're not bursting with pride.

as far as the apathy, seems to me you need something to look forward to.  it's unfortunate that you can't go to the school of your shoice, but try to see how lucky you are to be able to go to school at all.  lot's of people can't.  have you chosen your courses?  registered?  had a campus tour?  try to get excited about it.

oh - and don't try to have your life all figured out.  think of the next few years as exploration: try as many new things as possible, take courses that are out of your realm, meet new and different people.  the bottom line is, you don't even know who you are yet, so pretending to know what you want to do for the rest of your life is pretty stupid.

you're probably down because you're tired and feeling under pressure.  take a few days to rest, and then start your new journey - but don't worry too much about the destination.

congratulations!

Congrats on graduating!

I totally was the same way when I graduated. I really didn't care much for anyone I went to high school with so when I left... I left.

At least you'll save $$ going to community college... I actually got a Stafford Loan and didn't have to pay anything except my books for my 4 yr uni. Definately make an appt with the financial aid office and they'll help you finance your education.

Good luck!

Plus if you excel your first year - you can reapply to a four year school and qualify for scholarships. Regardless - am certain you will find that the entire dynamic is changed from high school to college. Learning will be different for you. Embrace the possibilities..

and floss.

oh  hey. it IS a big deal to graduate from high school!

you finished!

you are not pregnant!

i am totally serious.

i didnt finish high school - i ran away at age 16, which mite help explain the 18-year degree plan. NOT recommended, btw lol.

i felt that way when i graduated high school, too.  you know why?  because it really isn't a very big deal.  high school is more rite of passage than accomplishment, so i wouldn't worry about the fact that you're not bursting with pride.

Yes, THIS!

High school is a joke. You need to make it through, but it really doesn't prepare you for anything. College is so very different from high school. Real life is so very different from high school until you get a job and realize all of your co-workers act the same way the kids in your high school acted.