When Francis Lewis High School juniors entered the second semester of their junior year, the air seemed to thicken as the transition into young adulthood drew nearer. For many juniors, the stress and pressure of college planning intensified, along with the demands of SAT and ACT preparation and the need to ensure that their academic transcripts met college recruiters’ standards.
As students aim to finish their second semester, graduation can feel as if it is right around the corner, and college planning becomes one of the most defining aspects of the second half of their junior year. Teachers and counselors encourage students to prioritize their education, prepare for standardized tests, construct resumes, write college essays, and fill their schedules with volunteer work and extracurricular activities, all while shaping their futures and adding academic pressure at the same time.
“Everyone in high school is trying to work hard to get into college,” junior Rachel Farmer said. “They do a bunch of different things and take different classes to try to reach that goal.”
Junior and senior year can be some of the most stressful years of high school, filled with difficult classes and standardized tests. Students are often overwhelmed with the responsibilities of transitioning from high school to college. As a result, students try to raise their grades as much as possible.
“[This] the past fall semester, I [tried] to get my grades up because colleges are looking at them as well,” senior Luca Rosa said. “So I can make sure I’m good where I’m at.”
For many seniors like Luca, the pressure of maintaining good grades and going above and beyond has become the standard, as many retake their SATs and join clubs to become “college ready.” However, this can place a difficult mental strain on students, as high school alone is already challenging.
“…It’s a lot already because I got to stress over my, like, my exams and, like, studying for things I’m already not so great at, while looking into other things and worrying about the future.” Emily Garcia said.
For many students, college planning plays a major role in their academic lives, as teenagers begin narrowing down their career and academic choices. For junior Farah Deba, college planning has helped her target her future choices.
“I think I kind of gave up on the things that I wanted to do outside of school. I think more about the things that I can do,” Deba said.
Often, students not only struggle academically, but also worry about their financial futures. As tuition costs continue to rise by 2 to 5 percent, going to college can seem like a privilege reserved for those with high grades and scholarships. For sophomore Marely Garcia, college tuition will be a shared cost in the future.
“Honestly, I don’t know. I heard college was really expensive because of the tuition, so right now I’m saving up little by little for college and putting money into my fund for it so I can help out my parents,” Garcia said.
However, despite the many challenges students face while transitioning into college, many juniors and seniors alike feel positive about the college readiness process. At Francis Lewis High School, teachers and college counselors have become increasingly supportive of students.
“One thing that we do really well is we tell students that it is time [to think of college] and we’re here to support you,” college counselor Michelle Sperandio-Howla said. “We advise students figure out what’s important to them, not what their friends are doing, not what they hear is a great school. Just research,” Sperandio-Howla adds.
Because of this, many students at Francis Lewis High School see college as a positive opportunity for the future and a pathway to high-paying careers. Many students, such as senior Emily Garcia, already have a positive outlook on college.
“I’m looking forward to meeting more people my age and going further,” Emily Garcia said. “I’m looking forward to leaving and exploring,” she adds.
For many juniors, college is already a priority, and they have begun preparing for the future that awaits them, such as junior Ashley Lucero.
“Well, I’ve been looking at colleges and researching them in my free time,” Lucero said. “And if I have time, I’ll go visit colleges,” she adds.
In many ways, the way teenagers approach their journey to college reflects more than just their academic goals for the future. It tests their confidence in themselves and their ability to meet the standards they set, revealing how they handle pressure. Although some students feel success comes from school, others believe it can also be determined from within.
“It’s making me take on harder things in life to better prepare myself, especially for the financial aspect of college life,” junior Rachel Farmer said. “At least I gained all these learnings from these hard classes and prepared myself for life.”
