Dear Class of 2024 Senior,

Here we are; we have almost made it! Only 10.5 weeks left until we are officially alumni of Carolina Forest High School and as some may feel, free. College applications are behind us; the SAT and ACT are distant memories, and waking up at the crack of dawn to get to school on time will never look the same again. All that’s left to come is the senior picnic, senior skip day, Spring Break, graduation…and AP tests, for those of us who chose to take that route.

While the next couple of months are full of excitement, don’t forget there’s an entire life after high school waiting for each of you. Where will you go? Who will you be? What will you do? The choice is yours. 

With that comes a lot of change, new possibilities, and a myriad of doors waiting to be opened. The change can seem daunting, but that’s okay; change is nothing new to this class. As we leave high school, we will also go down in history as one of the few classes that will have ever had to live through the COVID-19 pandemic the way we did. Remember those days spent cooped up inside, attending Google Meets, attending hybrid classes, and being enclosed by the plexiglass walls? Change might as well be our middle name. But we can’t let that beat us down – change can be exciting too! 

Think of all the possibilities that await, all of the choices yet to be made, and all of the things that now get to be done. In these next few years, we get to shape the people we will become by the choices we make. I know I have a lot of decisions awaiting me. Will you stay home and work nearby? Or will you move away and attend school? Will you be a culinary mastermind or will you sail a sailboat across the globe? The choice is yours!

Along with these choices, as we venture into the next chapter of life, there are so many people we have yet to meet. As you may have learned in high school, the people you surround yourself with impact you in more ways than you might imagine. An old saying goes “Show me your friends; I’ll show you your future.” The people you choose to invest your time with and pour yourself into inevitably will gain some influence in your life. It is your job to make sure they are successful people who want the best for you and will push you in the right direction.

I reached out to some teachers and staff here at Carolina Forest High School and asked them what pieces of advice they would give to seniors graduating.

Mr. Mendenhall, an art teacher, comments, “As you move beyond high school, two thoughts of wisdom come to mind. First, learn how to manage your time. If you can learn to work more efficiently, you can be more productive and reduce the amount of stress in your life.  Secondly, try to surround yourself with successful people. Those who have similar goals to yourself will help with new opportunities and can be quite encouraging. These positive influences can help you reach the things you hope to accomplish. So best of luck after you graduate and use your high school experience as a stepping stone to future endeavors!”

Aaron Knapic, a finance and advanced video production teacher, adds, “Remember, the life decisions you make today set the domino effect in motion for what your life will look like later so be sure to do what will make your future self happy. DON’T start your adult life tens of thousands of dollars behind with student loan debt or a big car loan. Find out what you want to do in life from working, volunteering, shadowing, or internships, and then get there the most affordable way possible.”

Life after high school is often rushed in the minds of adolescents and it doesn’t help when we’ve been asked since first grade what we want to do when we grow up and where we want to go to college! It is totally okay if you still do not know the answers to these questions. Everyone’s path looks different; some choose to stay home for a year attending their local community college to save some money until they have a better idea of what they want to do, and some spend their time traveling until they feel they have “found themselves” and what they would enjoy doing.  Others jump right into college without a firm idea of what they want to do. All of these are perfectly normal and good ways to tackle such a hefty question! Just make sure you have thought about the pros and cons of all options, created a plan and can afford the decision you make!

As a fellow senior, if I had to give one piece of advice to those just dipping their toes in the waters of adulthood, don’t forget where you came from and the person you have worked so hard to become. Too often people get swept off to adulthood and sucked into the college or adult life in the blink of an eye. You are no cooler than the next person, and they are no cooler than the last. Stay true to yourself; don’t try or do anything that you know is not good for you and will not help you meet your goals — whatever they may be. You are a unique, fun, cool human.  Anyone who meets you is lucky to know you.  Don’t do things to suck up to others or make you fit in the ‘cool group;’ you’re cool on your own and the right people will see that.

 There’s a life out there waiting for you ~ don’t waste it!

With love and best of luck,

Gabby