“Education: the path from cocky ignorance to miserable uncertainty.”
— Mark Twain
Hello class of 2016!
I think Mr. Twain was referring specifically to the education that occurs between being a freshman in high school to a senior. I have worked with many seniors, in many situations, and when May comes around, I can tell you this:
MOST seniors are beginning to experience the anxiety of the unknown. It affects you in different ways. Some get just cranky like my 100 year old grandaddy. (trust me, he has something to be cranky about) . Some disappear into themselves like a turtle. Some just feel the exhaustion of a racer at the end of a full marathon, and try to sleep through the rest of the year. There are those who become nostalgic and secretly wish they could stay here forever. (It's a lot like the pregnant woman, in the transition phase who just screams"NO, NO, I AM NOT HAVING THIS BABY YET! TAKE ME HOME"). These are just a small sampling of the coping mechanisms that some seniors use.
Of course, there are those seniors who have done everything by the book and are completely prepared and excited to move on to the next challenge in their lives. We wish that all students felt this way, but alas, they are in the minority. If this is you, please take a bow. Great Job!
Now. If you find yourself behind in credits or needing to pass a state test in June to graduate...if you haven't started your portfolio, or worse, don't recall ever hearing the word 'portfolio'...if you've skipped English class and fear you may not pass, if you don't think you have the strength or focus to read that one last novel that is due in a week....That's when your anxiety has a direct connection to your own decisions and actions, and quite honestly, you need to own that. Own it and let it go. Focus on what IS going to get done NOW, not what didn't get done and whose fault it is, ok? WE WILL HELP YOU!
I promise, you will get through this. I will help you, your counselors will help you, your teachers will help you and your parents will help you. Please understand that you going through one of life's big transitions, and you are feeling pressure that sometimes feels unbearable. There are a few keys to getting through this, and on this page, I hope to provide you with the resources you will need.
Onward!
Love, C.Ray