Personal Narrative: Life After High School

Contemplating back on my high school journey, I began to recognize and appreciate the life changes I experienced and the imperative lessons I learned throughout those four years. If I had to choose several words to describe my high school experience, I would begin with eventful, challenging, and memorable. High school afforded me many experiences that continuously led to stressful and challenging encounters. Being involved with the Ambassador Program and the National Honor Society was one of the greatest decisions I made in high school. Both clubs provided me with numerous life-changing opportunities that will continue to have an impact on me for a lifespan.

I was a freshman in high school when I realized I was missing something, and no it wasn’t a boyfriend. Out of all the questions I was asked in high school, “What are you doing after high school?” was asked by a margin wider than Ronald Reagan’s popular vote in the presidential election of 1984. I was asked relentlessly by multiple teachers through out my high school career and I was always at a loss for a reply. I didn’t know what I wanted to be and I wouldn’t figure it out for a long time.

Wow senior did go extremely fast. I blinked and I’m about to graduate. I honestly look back and think about how this is what I’ve wanted, to be out of school, and now that it's here, I’m not ready. I’m not ready to be an adult. I tried to put it off as long as possible but that was impossible with the hands life dealt me. But at the same time I’m glad I’m almost finished because I have more time for me! I work out, I read books, I work my butt off, and just take care of myself and the people around me. I honestly love it. High school has honestly been a burden with how much has gone on in my personal life. I can’t wait to just have time to focus on life! I honestly can’t wait to get my first tattoo or dye my hair, which I’ve never done, but

I was given a life sentence at the age of seventeen. Since I was a freshman in highschool I have had plans to attend college after high school. I realized that I was an average student but I always tried hard in school hoping to one day impress the admissions board of a college I hoped to attend. I took classes in highschool that were completely out of my comfort zone in hopes to figure out what I would do with my life after high school. During junior year I was put into a web design class that submerged me into what seemed like another universe, the cyber world. I even learned a new language, program coding and how to design websites. I was fascinated and I would spend hours on end learning this new language. Soon I decided that I wanted to

The end of eighth grade was coming faster than any year before. It was about to be summer and most of the eighth graders were eager to be a freshman in high school next year. I was not so excited about this. School used to be hard for me, waking up, discussing with new people, being in classes that I struggled with eight hours each day. Speaking in front class petrified me to the point that I did not want to ask for help. There never used to be a time that I felt confident volunteering, raising my hand, or presenting in front of a class. I soundlessly coped with anxiety through eighth grade, causing me to be unsuccessful in a few classes, and wanting to not go to school most days. High school is incomparable to middle school, I knew this change

I am fortunate enough to have born into a healthy middle class family. I have never had to worry about not having enough food on the table, or getting the electricity cut off. I still have all four of my grandparents and live in a safe neighborhood. My life has, thankfully, been easy so far. I have never had to make huge, life changing decisions. Well, that is until now, with college and my life after high school quickly approaching.

"Things end, but memories last forever." My weekend was sure to prove that. Even though the seniors of 2016 are in readiness to graduate we will most definitely miss these times consumed together. On top of my roof, we sat chattering about what we are going to do after senior year. We discussed about how May 21, 2016, would arrive way before we wanted it to come upon us; once that day comes, we will realize only then that we might never see everyone out of our class again. As we all were articulating about how college will be contrary, how we will study so much more, and how tough it really might be; we promised to never drift apart from the best friends that we are. Finally, two a.m. crept up on us, and we knew it was time to get some

“Hey Katie,” the cute boy at lunch whispered to me while drinking his apple juice, “pass this down.”

Ring! Ring! The school bell dings and Stan gets up and goes to his locker. He walk over to the water fountain and someone push his head down and he got wet. It was his friends Kyle and Eric. He says” hey what was that for” and Kyle responds “ It was just a joke.” They then exit the school and went their way home. As they walk through a back alley Stan trips Kyle. Kyle falls and hits a garbage can, and the can tips over. In the can was a brown bag filled with money. The boys were astonished and took the money.

After high school I wouldn't want to go straight to college if I didn't necessarily have to. I would want to take a year to travel and see the world. Yes it might be better to just go straight to college after high school but who would want to do that when you could travel for a year. I believe after high school you should give yourself a gift and travel take a break from school. Even going to see the world and see different places and cultures, before reality hits you like a truck. Everyone should travel before their to busy with work, school, and or even families at the time. Its good to take time off.

My tail swishes back and forth ready to pounce as I watch for her head. It’s my turn to scare her. I turn to my side and cough up a hairball. Now ready I pounce! She lets out a squeak and jumps back. Both Emily and her mom laugh as I jump back down. The game continues, “BOO!” she ducks back. “BOO!” She pops up again; after a few more times of my jumping up and scaring her, she tells something to her mother and she pulls out her phone. The game ended there. Again and again Emily peaked over the couch but I just sat there. Eventually I flop over earning a chuckle from the two of them ; her mother puts the phone away and Emily flops over next to me and pets my head. She grabs the little, blue, crinkly bear that I’ve named Steven and crunches

I saw it. I saw as they drove into the peaceful grape fields that could be seen from any direction as the scorching sun burned our skin. I worked in those fields for eleven hours everyday with my parents. The peace was interrupted when the fields where invaded by white cars with a green stripe on both sides of the vehicle. Men in uniforms came out of the vehicles and started taking away some of my family’s closest acquaintances. I was seven years old when I discovered the reason my family lived in fear of stepping one foot outside the house unless it was absolutely necessary. The thought that they would take my parents away from me made fear overwhelm me until I dropped on my knees. My father grabbed my mother and I and ran as fast as we could

I am notorious for being clumsy. Sometimes I envision how my senior graduation will turn out, full of trepidation that I will trip on stage as I am approaching my principal to receive my diploma. Regardless, I realize that as the number of days left in high school decreases, it does not matter what happens on stage; all that matters is that I am finally graduating. OR

As I walked across the graduation stage to receive my high school diploma, I did not have the slightest indication of what I wanted to do with my life. While all my friends had finalized their plans for college and were ready to start new chapters in their lives, I had not even made a definite decision on what school to attend. Classmates of mine were getting ready to move halfway across the country to pursue their dreams, yet I did not even know what to major in. To say I was confused during this time in my life would have been an absolute understatement. A few days after I graduated, I decided to enroll at my local community college to explore my options and figure out my future.

This year I will turn seventeen. My god I need to start living before it's too late. I want to be a freshman again. If i’m honest I want to be a sixth grader again. I hate growing up. I don't like freedom. Most people surrounding me are excited that they are going to be an adult soon. Most people surrounding me want graduation to come quicker. Most people surrounding me can't wait to get space from their parents. It seems that I just don't have the same perspective as others. I wish to go back and redo my past not to change it but to make it last. My youth is withering away. This year it occurred to me that I can't stay a child