After four agonizing years, it seems like high school seniors have been waiting for this precious year forever. A cycle of stress, laughs, conflicts, and smiles will soon come to a close to begin a new cycle of uncertainty yet excitement. Everyone’s plans after graduation are different: staying in C-U, leaving C-U, leaving Illinois, college, working, armed forces, etc. Whatever it is, this year’s seniors are delighted to start the next chapter in their lives.
Many students in C-U are choosing to stay here.
“[This fall], I plan to attend the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign,” said Kelley McDonald, Central senior. “At first I was not even thinking about going to the U of I because I am from Champaign. I wanted a new adventure but as time got closer to decision day, I realized how great of a school it was [as well as how] my sister is at the U of I now and both of my parents went there so I decided to carry on the tradition. It was a hard decision but I know I chose the right one.”
“[This fall, I plan on] attending the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a major in communication,” said Maddie McMahon, Central senior. “I never wanted to go to school anywhere in Illinois, but once I researched more about college, I got closer and closer to realizing how smart of a choice it would be.”
Moving out of Illinois this year doesn’t seem to be as common, but many students are still making this choice.
“Out of 135 seniors we surveyed, 51% or 69 had applied to at least one out of state school. Out of that 69, 60 had been accepted to at least one out of state school,” said Samuel Furrer, Urbana High School counselor.
“This fall, I plan to attend the University of Kentucky with a major in chemical engineering,” said Bella Ritz, Central High School senior. “I’m choosing Kentucky because they offered me full tuition.”
“I plan on attending Washington University in St. Louis in the fall, but I’m not really sure yet what I will major in,” said Jessica Young, Central senior. “It’s cheaper for me to attend WashU than the U of I, but I would rather go to WashU anyways because I really like the school in general.”
However, with Illinois’ current financial status and lack of a sustainable funding mechanism for higher education, both those staying in Illinois and leaving the state don’t seem as affected as one might think.
“We’ve seen students that are concerned about Illinois and its funds; however, the situation is affecting mostly the state universities in Illinois and current college students with MAP grants,” said Furrer.
The stressful decision process began Junior year and possibly earlier for some students. As usually happens, Seniors became somewhat indecisive with weighing factors such as family and finances the closer it gets to the end of the school year.
“My other options were UIUC, Purdue, WashU, and UIC. I could have stayed in the C-U and gone to the U of I but I didn’t because they didn’t offer me as much scholarship money. Also, I want to experience living in a new area. Money was a huge factor in my decision. Before my decision process I felt like I really would end up at Purdue. It was my top choice but they also did not offer me as much money,” said Ritz.
“I do plan to leave C-U, and I guess you could say inadvertently it is a result of Illinois’ funding,” said Young. “The only pressure I felt was a little bit of financial pressure, but the financial aid office at WashU was extremely helpful.”
While a majority plan to go to college, a minority plan not to.
“Next fall, I will be taking a gap year,” said Olivia Prudhomme, Central senior. “This was not my original plan, but because I did not get into the schools I applied to, I am taking a year off of school. I plan to work, travel, and enjoy my time not taking classes. It will feel weird to not be in school because we all have been for so long, but I think that’s the core of my inspiration to break away from the path of going straight to college. We have been in school for so long, who am I not on a school schedule? I have no idea [and] that’s what I am intrigued to find out.”
“I am really excited. I cannot wait to go to college and meet new people. It is going to be a lot different, but I’m definitely ready for the change,” said Young. “I think I look forward to starting fresh. I don’t really know anyone going to WashU, which is scary, but also a unique opportunity.”
“I feel great about my plan, I met a really nice girl that I’m going to room with and the dorms at Kentucky are amazing so I’m looking forward to those most,” said Ritz.
“I am very excited to start a new chapter in my life [since I’ll be] meeting new people and trying new things. I’m ready for a new school and environment,” said McDonald.
“I’m excited!” said McMahon. “A little nervous, of course, but mostly just going in without expectations. [I look forward to] finding out what I want to do as a career; I have my major picked out but I’m not quite sure what exactly I want to do with it yet.”
With second semester ending fast, seniors now reflect on senior year.
“My senior year has been great so far, I’ve gotten closer with a lot of new people,” said Ritz. I hate senioritis though, it’s so hard to find motivation when you already know where you’re going for college in a couple months. I love being the oldest at central though because it makes the last of everything more special.”
“I love being so close to graduating, and I also love my friends that have been through so much with me,” said Young.
“Senior year has been a roller coaster of emotions and I am looking forward to it ending,” said Prudhomme. “I didn’t like the amount of pressure that I felt about keeping up with homework, college applications, sleep, and extra curriculars first semester, it was awful. i [love] feeling more free about life from knowing that i do not have another year of high school.”
“I’m having such a great time and [I love] that I am the oldest in the school. [However,] it’s hard to stay focused. Senioritis is real,” said McDonald.
“[I hate how senior is] the awkward in between period where I’m ready for high school to be over but not quite ready to go off to college,” said McMahon. “[However I love] knowing that I’ve grown so much these past years and I’m currently the best I’ve ever been and also knowing that I’m still growing and will become even better.”
Nearing graduation, seniors are now looking back at high school overall.
“I have learned that doing what you love with people who make you feel good is the most important thing,” said Young.
“I learned what true friends look like thanks to high school. I’ve been really lucky enough to have a solid group of friends all through high school,” said Ritz.
“High school has been very interesting and I have loved all the experiences [that] I have been through, but I am ready to go out and explore the world,” said Prudhomme. “I learned so much from high school [as] every year has been completely different from the other in terms of who i am and what i am doing and that’s how I like to live. I learned about how flaky people can be and that you can’t and shouldn’t try to please everyone because then you miss out on pleasing yourself. I learned about taking care of myself and what it means to be your own best friend, but I also learned about embracing the people in your life while they are there [since] not everyone is meant to stay.”
“[I learned] that you should always be yourself no matter what,” said McDonald. “Never feel peer pressured by your friends and if they are then you should find new friends.”
“I learned to not] live only for the purpose of other people. A lot of people I know make decisions based off of what other people like,” said McMahon.
Now being seniors, the high school reflection also comes with regrets.
“I regret not being in a play at Central [because] they are always so amazing to watch and seem super fun to be apart of. I also wish I took more electives because there are so many things to learn in this world and I want to know as much as i can. Now that I decided to not go to school next year, I do wish I took my classes more for myself instead of feeling pressured to take a class to [to please colleges],” said Prudhomme.
“I regret not doing more sports [since] I only played volleyball and I wish I could have played tennis and diving,” said McDonald.
“[I regret] not taking an art or music class,” said McMahon.
High school seniors are now feeling the stress of coordinating their futures, but they are looking forward to their next steps.