As the holiday season nears, people all over the world look forward to seeing loved ones, celebrating the festivities, and bringing a memorable close to 2024. However, as high school juniors and seniors begin to study for their finals, questions about college and their futures await like coal in their stockings.
While most look forward to seeing loved ones around the holidays, for juniors and seniors it comes with a plethora of questions about college and their future. But questions like these only bring extra stress to an already stressful time. According to a survey, Cross River Therapy reported that 75% of teenagers admitted to feeling academic stress daily.
High school juniors and seniors are already worried enough with current academics, applying and looking at schools, sports, activities, and the general social pressures of being a teenager. College and schoolwork are a constant part of their life.
“We already talk about it so much at school that we don’t want to talk about it outside of school,” Maddie Dudley ‘26 said.
The college process is different for everyone
College can also be a very personal topic. There are so many factors that go into choosing a school, such as tuition, campus size, social environment, athletics, distance from home, academic levels and interests, learning accommodations and more.
And these are topics that can quickly take a personal turn. Financial aid, grades, and learning accommodations aren’t free topics of conversion for most. And while students love their family members, many also value a certain degree of privacy.
“The college process should be about you and what’s best for you. I feel like a lot of times around the holidays they try to make what they think is best or what they think is best for you,” Madi Baker ‘26 said.
The college process is different for everyone and no two people are at the exact same point. Extended family members can sometimes put unintentional expectations or pressures to be further along in the process. But not everyone is ready to fully commit to a school.
“I just don’t see myself at that point yet. I have a long way to go. It’s just hard to take that step when I’m not really ready,” Michaela Ianieri ‘26 said.
High schoolers don’t have it all figured out
Not to mention that high school juniors and seniors are 16-17 years old. That is extremely young to be deciding where to spend the next four years, let alone what to do with the rest of their lives. High schoolers do not have it all figured out, and they shouldn’t have to. And the people asking them probably didn’t have it all figured out when they were 17 either.
“I have absolutely no clue where I see myself or what I want to do for the rest of my life. It’s a big pressure,” Lizzie Organsky ‘26 said.
Christmas break is supposed to be a pause on school and stress. High school juniors and seniors are constantly put under pressure from society, teachers, parents, friends, and themselves. They don’t need the extra pressure from relatives about college during Christmas, a time that is supposed to be filled with joy.
However, it is understandable that it can be difficult to talk to teenagers. That could be the main reason why so many relatives default to asking them about college, simply because they do not know what else to talk about but still want to connect. But fear not, there are plenty of things to talk about besides college:
