Light at tunnel’s end burns blindingly

With the end of the school year fast approaching, the daunting doors of postsecondary education are about to swing open for many seniors at West. For most, this brings an endless checklist of to-dos, all of which need to be completed alongside piles of schoolwork. It can be hard to focus on future endeavors when the halls of West are constantly pulling us back--reminding us that our four years of high school are not over just yet.

Despite this, senioritis has many of us in its grip, especially knowing that our GPAs mean as little as ever, and the light at the end of the tunnel is growing. The classes we are taking solely to graduate seem to require more effort than what they used to, though it’s the classes that we take purely for the enjoyment that keep us pushing through. 

For many of us who have spent these four years working tirelessly to keep up grades and fill our resumes, this semester should serve as a breath of freedom, though that’s easier said than done. The pressures of trying to balance high school with the already looming college years can be difficult. 

The majority of us who are planning to stay in on-campus housing are looking for roommates, a process which feels more like speed dating than anything else. “What are your interests?” “What are you looking for in a roommate?” “Are you a morning or night person?” Like Tinder, we swipe through countless candidates, looking to find a match, praying they aren’t going to turn into a roommate from hell like the horror stories on the internet.

With this search comes the pressure of figuring out what to do with our futures. For some, the path is clear and defined, though for others, the future is a blank page waiting to be filled. There’s the questions of finances, degree lengths, job growth, and competitiveness, all of which are difficult questions for anyone, let alone adolescents, to decipher. This is especially true given that young brains are wired to focus on the near future, yet we are expected to figure out our lives by the time we’re in our early twenties.

Alongside this crushing anxiety comes a sense of excitement. Our childhood restraints are about to be broken off and many of us will be free to do as we please. No more curfews, no more rules, no more nagging parents. This, however, is a double edged sword, because with the excitement of these changes, comes grief. Grief for our lost childhoods, grief for our early teenage years, grief for the friendships that may end once we go our separate ways.

While all of our feelings regarding graduation and the future may be different, we need to spend these last few months living in the moment. The world around us may be changing, but we can focus on living in the moment and enjoying what time we have left in the halls of West. High school may not be perfect, and is definitely not the greatest experience for some, but we can at least turn these last months into something to look back on fondly.

Let this column serve as a reminder that you don’t need to have the future figured out. While you may be pushed into adulthood now and in the coming months, you are allowed to make mistakes. Post-high school years are just continuations of the last four years--only the lessons you are learning are self guided. This is the time to figure out who you are and who you want to be. The path looks different for everyone, and that’s okay.

by Emma Toney

Published March 17th, 2025

Oshkosh West Index Volume 121 Issue VI