Thursday, May 4, 2017
The Next Chapter--Jasper
This isn’t a story of something that has already happened, nor is it a story of
something that will happen. But it is a constant thought on my mind for the last month and a
half. “We are finally graduating” is a phrase that has been repeated many times within the
last month and each time it gets just a little bit more exciting. It is almost to an unbearable
point where most of us has already mentally graduated. We are so obsessed with the idea
of moving on from high school and having our own independent lives. But I’m not going to lie,
the thought of that next chapter is completely scary. We complain about our lives and the
amount of pointless work we do and the lack of sleep we get and how we are so ready to
go to college. But is college really going to make that better? Now, obviously i cannot speak
from personal experience, but of the things i heard from my sister, cousins, etc., they miss
high school! According to them, high school is a gold mine. My sister is pretty much the
ultimate college student stereotype. No food, no money, no sleep. We really don’t know how
easy we have it, honestly. We get less work, school is so much simpler, SCHOOL IS FREE, we
get fed, we have a social life for crying out loud. But, don’t get me wrong. Because after
being told all of this, I still cannot wait to graduate. I cannot wait to move away and be on my
own for once. And when I finally do, I know i am going to regret it. Being in my parents’ care
and support is a blessing we really shouldn’t take advantage of. But, Senior year has been
great and I have made friends and memories that I will cherish even after I am in a
wheelchair. I have learned so much about myself and also about the rest of my life. All of it
is very overwhelming, which is surprisingly a good and bad thing. I’m ready to go on to the
next chapter of my life, but the question in my head is am I really ready? And there really is
only one way to find out. With that being said, and hopefully not scaring anyone out of being
an adult, although most of us already been an adult for a while, congratulations to everyone
and good luck for the future!
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Thank You Jasper, you really opened my eyes to the reality, no doubt you did make me feel a little scared and for a moment I paused while reading your blog, because I just had a flashback of the second I stepped on Etiwanda's campus when I was in fifth grade going with my sister to her freshmen orientation. Now look at us we are graduating and YES we are all excited but deep down inside we are all sad, because that chapter in our life is going to be over. The other day my sister messaged me saying she is so excited for me and proud that I have grown up so fast. Everyday I find a memory of my elementary and middle school days which only makes me crave for those kindergarten days, recess, and the friendship bonds that will always be engraved in my memory regardless of my age. Thinking about it now I don't want to grow up and only wish to go back four years ago, but at the same time I want to take the challenge and become that responsible, independent adult that I alway dream of becoming. I agree with you about the opportunities we have now and how it will change once we go off to college, but at the same time that is part of life and we all must learn to experience the difficulties of life whether we undergo them successfully or not. Thank you once again because this was inspiration and extremely thoughtful of you....GREAT JOB!
ReplyDeleteReading this made me think about my last 4 years of high school and I'm realizing that I am going to miss high school and it almost makes me sad that I'm graduating but at the same time I can't wait to graduate and experience life on my own for once. I know eventually I'll want to come back to high school and I'll miss my parents cooking for me but for now I'm ready to graduate. I really enjoyed reading this good job!
ReplyDeleteThis was a very moving piece for me to read. I am one of those people who are excited to graduate, and literally counting down the seconds through an app on my phone. To tell you the truth reading your piece is helping me stop back and think how good I really do have it. It's crazy how much we take for granted without even knowing. Thank you for reminding me of this fact. --Megan T.
ReplyDeleteI liked this because these have been my thoughts this whole semester. I don't think anyone is really every ready to move on because the future is unpredictable but I think everyone makes it out okay in the end so theres always comfort in that thought. -Rachel Smith
ReplyDeleteThis is honestly such a real piece because I think everyone is going to get scared about leaving high school and actually growing up now. It's funny how soon were actually going to be the people who are telling our little cousins and siblings to enjoy high school.
ReplyDeleteYes!!! You captured my exact emotions. I'm extremely excited to graduate but at the same time that means stepping into adult hood, which scares me. We want change, just without all the responsibility and taxes that come with it. Like when you're little and all you want to do is grow up but, when you finally grow up you miss being a little kid again. Ahhh what I would do to have recess and afternoon naps again. Anyways, sometimes we just have to embrace the change and all that it brings.
ReplyDeleteI can really relate to this, it is so eye opening. It really is scary thinking about us graduating soon and how we will be moving on to our next chapter of our lives - college. but at the same time, we all cannot wait to graduate. Honestly, reading this did out a little fear in me, and it made me realize how much I am going to miss high school and how we really will be becoming adults now. but overall this was really a great read. Great job!
ReplyDeletei think about this in general but reading your piece opens my eyes like all these new things are happening to my life this year. good job ! - karina l.
ReplyDeleteYour piece is very relatable, but I think I'm one of the few people who don't want to graduate yet because of the points that you made in your story. I don't want to start doing adult things and having to pay for my own food and drive myself to places (even though I haven't been behind the wheel of a car yet :( ). I also agree with what you said about taking advantage of your parents care because I see that some people do and they don't realize how good they have it until it's gone. But anyway, Great Job!!!
ReplyDeleteYes Jasper! I loved your piece! I also totally agree with everything you said, we are all in such a rush to get out and be done but we really are all going to miss what we have with this chapter. Reading this gave me excitement and I cannot believe the four years is already here!! It is crazy how fast it goes. I know that you are ready to start that next chapter. May the rest of your memories in and from high school be some of the best yet, and may your new beginning be more than you could expect. Great Job!!
ReplyDeleteThis piece really captured all of the emotions that us seniors are feeling right now! Although we are excited to graduate from high school, the next chapter of our lives will be hard, but that is part of growing up. Great job! -Lauren J.
ReplyDeleteThis is honestly how all, if not most, of the seniors feel right now. This is the most relatable piece I've ever read. You did a great job of depicting every emotion and thoughts we can have during these last few days of high school.
ReplyDeleteThis piece reflects my thoughts this entire semester because I have been so determined since junior year to graduate and go to college. But now I am relapsing about leaving home and being independent, although I still can't wait for graduation. Good work bro!
ReplyDeleteJasper, this piece is exactly how I think everyone feels towards this part of the year, yes it may be scary but once college is done, you will reminisce on the experiences that you had in the past.
ReplyDeleteThis piece is so relatable! Although I am so ready to graduate and leave High School, I'm not sure I'm ready for the real world. Great job!
ReplyDeleteI feel the same exact way. I'm super excited to graduate but gosh i'm terrified about the future. going to college means being on my own and taking on my own responsibilities and i have always relied on my parents for practically everything. this piece was extremely relatable and hopefully eye opening for many others. Good job with writing this blog!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jasper for this piece. Everything truly seems so real now. The truth in this piece shaped the entire piece. I appreciate how you said we shouldn't take advantage of our parents because they've done so much for us. There really is no other way to find out if we are ready for this next chapter than to buckle up and go through college and whatever else after high school, learning from our mistakes and living life with no limits. Great job and good luck to you in the future!
ReplyDeleteI think about college and my future all the time now since graduation is so soon. I've been so stuck on the fact that i'm ready to leave high school and graduate but now that it's coming to an end it's much scarier than I thought. Your piece is so good because it's something that most of us can relate to, great job! -Sophia Cordura
ReplyDeleteIts so scary that we are all graduating. Everything went by so quickly and we are right at the cusp of graduating with only one week of high school left! We all say that we want to be indpendent without our parents but in reality, we take our parents for granted for all of the hardwork they put for us that we dont even recognize it anymore.
ReplyDeleteI really like this because the whole "the thought of that next chapter is completely scary" point. I'm one of those seniors that's like "Wait what do you mean there's less than 2 weeks left?? I don't want to leave yet". But it's true that the only way to know if we're ready is to just go out there and move on. I thought this piece was super relatable. Good job!
ReplyDeleteEvery senior can relate to this. Despite my complaining, I will absolutely miss senior year and all the activities I was involved in. Because, like you said, nothing will be handed to us as easy as it was in high school. But I completely understand, Im excited to start a new chapter despite its possible outcomes of negativity. I want something fresh and untouched by me.
ReplyDeleteOh man... this was everything that's been running through my mind for quite a while. Almost every other sentence that comes out of my mouth is, "I can't wait to graduate," but that lingering doubt that you wrote about is still there. I appreciated how honest and open you were about both the good and scary things that come as the year ends. Good job
ReplyDeleteI have also felt you same way you have. I'm at times scared yet excited at other times or even excited and scared at the same time! Although it's normal to feel this way about the things we don't know. We are constantly told the college is hard because it is and should be, the same way elementary school was easier than middle school except we're actually supposed to act as adults now!! College is a scary thing although it comes with so many advantages as you said. In the end the only way to know for sure is to go for ourselves. Thank you for your well wishes and for your piece.
ReplyDeleteI agree!! Many of my piers constantly say "I can't wait to graduate"... but hearing their same moaning and groaning of AP classes and stress... college isn't going to be much easier, is it? College leaves students drained: mentally, physically, and financially. Yes, there's going to be tons of new experiences, but it will be much more difficult than high school. I'm scared to leave my little circle of Etiwanda and expand my horizons onto college. I'm scared to grow up, to be honest. But that's life and we must preserve even through the hardest of times.
ReplyDeleteThis piece was very moving and relatable! Literally a reflection of all the thoughts going though my head this year. Now that the time is here, it so unreal to me. I don't really like to have specific "plans" to follow throughout life because I feel that many events in the future will cause our plans to shift. We really don't know " The next chapter" but what we do know is that we must finish what we started with. Good job on this piece!
ReplyDeleteWhat you wrote is very true. It is on my mind 24/7, it seems just like yesterday high school started and now in a week we are graduating. Good job.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate how you took advantage of the timing and put into words what we have all been thinking lately. I honestly thought that this concept could turn very cheesy quickly but you worded everything so well and your tone is very mature. Very good job!
ReplyDeleteGreat piece , actually created some unknown anxiety through this writing. The thought of us graduating and progressing forward with our lives is a frightening thought. Nice examples including your family and how college is actually like. Excellent job.
ReplyDeleteReading your piece made it sooo real right now. Wow! I completely agree with you though. We are all anticipating graduation and college without thinking of what we are going to leave behind. A drastic change is going to happen in our lives,and that's exciting for some, but also scary! However, I think we are all ready for that taste of independence as you stated. Thank you for this piece! -Jessica Banuelos (free education will be missed)
ReplyDeleteThis is something that is always on my mind, its crazy how far we all have come but still a part of me feels like i'm not ready to grow up. Everything is taking its course and time isn't slowing down for anyone. Your piece really made me feel in touch with how much I might miss high school. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeletehow cute! You really relayed how all of us must be feeling right now perfectly. It's all so bittersweet, but something better is coming without a doubt. I mean, remember us freshmen year? -Vanessa Lai
ReplyDeleteYou are so right. Just reading this piece made my heart rush because I'm on the same page; we all are! I'd also like to thank you for that little smack of reality though. It is so important to remember to enjoy what we have right now in the present, especially as we inch toward one of the most memorable days of our life- graduation! We do not even have two weeks left. Thanks for such relevant and exciting work! -Keala Naipo
ReplyDeleteThere you go theres reality for you. Its crazy to think our future is in the brink of inception. I've been overwhelmed with the now without looking towards the future. I see this piece in you because I know your a go getter and a believer of moving forward to strive for success. I cant wait to move on and go to college in order for me to finally realize things about myself, no matter if it is a mystery. Great work.
ReplyDeleteI think that we are all excited to leave high school even though it is easier and cheaper is because of the thought of freedom. Freedom to do what you want without the constraints and judgment of parent and family members. I know that it college you are average even though you were top student in high school. Your piece depicts this strange transition very well, and it is nicely written. Amazing job! -Ethan To
ReplyDeleteYou captured my emotions perfectly. I'm extremely excited to graduate but at the same time that means even more responsibility, which scares the daylights out of me. Great job Jasper!
ReplyDeleteI am so excited to graduate as well and i do understand where you are coming from with the whole having more freedom and it is simpler but i also feel that college will be better because we get to pick the classes after our first two years to do what we want in our future career.
ReplyDeleteYou have hit on every major emotion and thought that has gone through my head since May began. It feels like high school has gone by so fast. I completely agree with you that a part of me is ready to move on but the other part is telling me am I actually ready? Am I prepared? I have no idea, but that's the beauty of life and new experiences. I loved your piece it was raw and truthful
ReplyDeleteThis was such a relatable piece because I have as well thought of the future in this perspective. High school has been an interesting and good experience but the future has more and better thing to come :-)
ReplyDeleteI personally am still excited for graduation, I feel ready for what is come. But I understand that some people feel less prepared to adult and for all I know I am not prepared at all. College is a fresh start for everyone and a time to change our lives. Great piece
ReplyDeleteThis is definitely that time of senior year where we feel so many emotions once. I'm both excited and nervous to go to college but I've worked so hard and I couldn't imagine doing anything else immediately after. Even though I know the courses are much harder, I also know that there are so many resources available to us, we just have to really search for them. Anyway, I'm glad that I completely understand your piece because I've definitely had the same thoughts for the past 2 months. Congratulations on your future endeavors, you'll do great!
ReplyDeleteGreat comparisons between life in high school and life after. What we do after high school often always seems to be on the minds of people who are not us is what I've noticed being so close to graduating. Either way I think that life after college will have its ups and downs, as did high school, and in the end we will all end up where we need to be. Nice Job.
ReplyDeleteYou're completely right it is scary and of course everyone is going to only see the independence and not the sacrifice that will have to be made in the coming years of our lives. I enjoyed your piece because you were so honest and it got me thinking of the great memories I've made in the past four years. However,change is always scary but the benefits come both in tangible objects as well as in experience. Also reflecting following reading your piece, I've realized there are more memories to be made and more opportunity to discover/explore despite the difficulty. Thank for writing such a thought provoking piece that allowed your reader to truly consider the future!
ReplyDelete-Bryanna Torres
I relate to this post heavily. The same thoughts have been going through my head this entire semester, while I decided whether I was going to miss high school more than I would enjoy college. Now that it's finally here, it doesn't feel real. Thanks for writing everyone's collective thought in this piece. Well done!
ReplyDeleteI cannot describe how relatable this is! While leaving high school, you must also consider the fact that you're also leaving an important foundation that is of your education, as well as your childhood. While transitioning, we become so enveloped by all of these emotions that we can't fully comprehend. And I think you did an excellent job in describing all of our feelings.
ReplyDelete-Jordan Lee