The beauty of being a senior strikes again with one of many dilemmas. By numerous people, I had been told that a college student changes his or her major several times in four years of study. I refused to believe that I would be in that situation, because, all of this time up until now, I have been convinced that pharmacy is the direction I want to go. Recently, after considering my passions and talents, my thoughts have changed.

I have always had a huge love for the foreign languages. I took three years of Latin, one year of Spanish, and I’m on my third year of French. My friends say learning languages are like chores, but I say they are chores that I happen to like doing. I don’t think many have heard a teenager say that before. After all of that study in that academic field, do I let my strength in that area go to waste and forget about it in my four years of college? I know that a major in pharmacy would not allow time for another major in a language, or even a minor at that. So this is why I might change the career path for my life. I am glad that I am going to college early, as it will allow me to use my early entrance into college to make the best decision. When I start college this January, I think that I will be doing what a lot of college students do: experimenting, sorting through doubts, and asking myself the most important questions about life and my vocation.

As far as academics are concerned, I think that is the only problem I’m having when it comes to preparing for college. But, there are also some emotional stresses that I (as well as probably many other seniors) have been thinking about as well.

All of us have created friendships and relationships throughout our high school experience, but what are we to think when we are told that a person is most likely to lose touch with most of their high school friends once they get out into the real world. It’s an emotional rollercoaster. I, personally, do not have many friends that attend EL, but it is still the same situation. The friends that I have (all I have met through church), are ones that I cannot imagine moving on in life without. Thinking about wrestling with hours of college work, and staying in touch with friends at home could throw anyone off a cliff.

Being a senior and facing the “college” factor is what also keeps students from getting into new friendships and relationships their senior year. We’re going to be leaving anyway, so why attach right now? As it is, I have been struggling to face the reality of going to college and maintaining friendships, so I don’t think I could handle any more. I have been telling my friends, “I’m only going to be thirty-five minutes away. I’ll come home and visit!” When really, I’ll probably be loaded with homework and hours of studying.

It’s hard to face for anyone, but I think that balance and being confident in your friendship with people is what will get you by. Don’t tell yourself that you have to end all of your friendships because you are going to college; tell yourself that your friendships will only become stronger when you go to college. Or, at least, that’s what I am telling myself.

So, as I enter into my last quarter of high school before leaving for college, I face the challenges of doubts of vocation and the fear to face the reality of my friendships. Who knows what will come up next? Until the next issue, seniors – don’t give up!