What’s Next After High School?
James Reyna
Staff Writer
High school is an extremely important step in transitioning from a teenager to a young adult. A home where people meet some of their best friends, high school holds some of their greatest memories. Sadly, it does not last forever. Once high school is over, people must face the challenge of becoming an adult, whether that is immediately getting a job or continuing education in college. Life after high school may seem like a scary roller coaster in the beginning but at the end of the crazy journey it might not be that bad of a ride.
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Living in College
Jessica Yee
Copy Editor
The rush to get students into college often leaves no room to prepare students for lifestyle changes. However, many students find it difficult to transition into a larger environment with more responsibilities. While many enjoy the freedom of staying out late, others find that coursework and extracurricular consume a lot of their time.
According to U.S. News, 38.8 percent of college students spent less than five hours a week with friends. Admittedly, the decreased interaction could be due to the increased social media use. Along with the lowered hours of interaction, many students feel more pressure from their classes then they did in high school. Only 50.7 percent of people scored an above-average mental health. However, students can sign up for social clubs, fraternities or sororities to help them along their new lifestyle and improve their mental health.
Still, many students enjoy the flexibility in their class schedules. College students can select classes early in the morning or late into the evening. In college, students are able to focus on their field of study, enabling them to think about their future. Colleges provide a myriad of clubs to advance students’ careers including engineering, poetry and cultural clubs.
Teaching styles also vary in post-secondary schools. Often times, students ask for help from teacher assistants and rely on study groups to get through finals weeks because professors are preoccupied. Really, it depends on the type of post-secondary school people pursue. Those who enjoy one-on-one help from professors would enjoy liberal arts schools, while those who favor a larger setting would prefer community colleges, Cal States or one of the Universities of California. It is important for students to tour campuses of schools to get an idea of their lifestyles in the future.
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Get the Job Done
Vicky Lam
Staff Writer
After graduating high school, graduates are free to choose their own paths in life. If young graduates choose to join the labor force for the first time, it may appear very daunting; however, many people will find it easier with some prior research.
In some cases, having a four-year college degree does not always guarantee a job. According to the Economic Policy Institute, the labor market is very tough on young workers with the unemployment rate of those under age 25 being slightly higher than the unemployment rate overall. Those that keep this in mind turn to the surprising amount of non-degree jobs available. From small business owners to detectives and criminal investigators, there is a large variety of jobs to pick and choose from.
Finding a job can be a frustrating experience and writing a resume can be even worse. Attending events and having a wide range of contacts will make it easier to search for a job; otherwise, online job searches on a specific career can often be successful. When writing resumes, a bit of boasting and a focus on key accomplishments can make employers more inclined to give the job position.
After overcoming the job search and resume phase, the job interview is the final hill to climb. Employers do not want to hire people that come across as desperate and too willful to work. Rather, they want to see people that will prove to be positive and competent in their work. To achieve this, it is as simple as staying true to oneself. Keeping a personality real will leave a more lasting impression on employers.
It is important to go through the job process thoroughly no matter how difficult it gets. After all, a job can lead one to major success.
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Adulthood: The Reality
Samantha Lanzo
Staff Writer
Reaching adulthood is a time where maturity sets in. It is a time of responsibilities and truly growing up. With adulthood comes the freedom that allows people to start a new chapter of life that is not always going to be easy. Adulthood allows people to use everything they have learned to their advantage. Truly, adulthood is waking up and realizing the total control of the future ahead. It is a time to start getting serious about choices whether they are difficult or not.
There are many responsibilities that come with being an adult. These responsibilities may be financial, for yourself or for others. As a child, many let people around them control their decisions, but as an adult is it up to them to distinguish between right and wrong. There are some social markers of adulthood, the things everyone looks forward to when they hit the stage of being an adult. Some of these markers include getting a job, moving out and having a family of their own. However, there are also stressful parts of becoming an adult such as taxes, debt and insurance.
Taking the next step in life, finding a place in the world and leaving a mark are truly what it means to have reached adulthood. Although adulthood may feel like a big weight on many shoulders, it grants true freedom and a feeling of accomplishment once achieved. Independence and adulthood come hand in hand, and it is truly a goal to strive toward.
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Fun Facts
Jason Zhu
Staff Writer
1) Since 1980, the most popular major is business.
2) 90 percent of millennial graduates say that college has paid off or will pay off.
3) The average college student attends 62 parties a year.
4) An average student’s debt after college is around $23,700.
Sources: nces.ed.gov, pewsocialtrends.org, teenlife.com