Ranch Reflections are articles written by LRHS students and staff who want to share their experiences, thoughts, and concerns. This is a great opportunity for Mustangs to branch out beyond traditional news stories. In this edition an LRHS senior looks forward to the uncertainty of the future.
Katherine Selai – Mustangs Ahead
(LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL) - I am scared to start a life in college and independence, but it is a part of growing into being an adult. Leaving the security of high school and stepping into the real world to learn independence comes with a lot of new challenges and fears.
Graduation is approaching faster every day, making my stability in high school and life at home go with it. I have a lot of fear about leaving my place of security and being on my own, what if I fail?
Many seniors, including myself, are terrified not just of living independently but of leaving our comfort. There is a lot of emotion when it comes to independence and leaving our security but there is a huge, constant fear of failing in the real world and being stuck back at home until you’re 35 wasting your life over one mistake.
I try to set myself up for success like most seniors do, but there is always a doubt that we are not truly ready or properly prepared. There is very little that authority figures and guardians can do to prepare you for every path in life. Everyone has a different path and priorities. My goals and focus will not be exactly like someone else's even if we have the same major or same general goal, it’s not ever identical.
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No one will live my exact life or go through my exact experiences. There is a huge likelihood that I will go through hardships, embarrassment, and failures. It terrifies me to know these things might happen, but I know one thing the worst thing I can do for myself is to give up.
Many seniors and I need to take this step and take our failures not at face value of mistakes but as lessons. I know my mistakes and failures are lessons to make me better prepared for my future. Taking these fears and turning them into nervous excitement is the best method to ensure a positive mindset.
I am very excited for my next steps into adulthood which comes with a lot of mystery and fear. The best thing to remember is to take the mistakes and make them lessons not as failures, take the lessons and don’t give up.