Dealing with college is a slippery slope of excitement and worry, but that excitement and worry doesn’t start in the later years of high school; it can begin as early as the first day of high school. In media, personal life , peers, and school, college is focused on as a big. Extreme change in your life that essentially starts your adulthood.
Being in high school means getting ready for life after high school, preparing yourself educationally and emotionally for that new chapter of life. Underclassmen fly under the radar for teachers when considering college. That pressure is on them just as much as it is on the juniors and seniors. Although underclassmen shouldn’t focus on college or life after high school right away, it shouldn’t be forgotten.
This is the reality for many underclassmen at North Hollywood High School. NHHS is known for their high graduation rates and their college prep. With that constantly being around the freshmen (9th) and sophomores (10th), it gets put into their minds and eventually gives them that pressure of already trying to prepare for college.
Even when it seems years away. Eva Levine, a freshman, is one of those underclassmen who is already preparing for college, in a way some may say unnecessarily soon. “I feel like it [school] does put pressure on me, like I feel I need to pay attention to my tests or join clubs.” Levine commented on the stress of college already. “It’s an impending doom.”
While the standard math for ninth graders is algebra 1, Levine has the achievement of being in algebra 2. She’s getting in those credits now, when it seems like that shouldn’t be on her mind this early. Even though being an overachiever, especially early, is definitely something someone who’s been thinking of college or life after high school for a while would do.
Levine explains, “I feel like I’ve been thinking about it [college] since last year—or seventh grade.” Depending on who you’re around, or what your teachers expose you to, college can be on your mind as early as middle school.
While that is the case for Levine, Nyla Orozco, a sophomore, faces slightly different challenges. She has college on her mind. “It’s like an expectation that adults put on you.” Orozco said. Her idea of what college is. “I like to think that I’m getting ready for college, but it isn’t all that important to me right now.” She explained.
That is a common way of thinking for most younger students, believing that it’s the adults pressuring you into caring about college, but all in all, they are just trying to help you into the right path.
Despite being in only her second year of high school, Orozco is still worried and preparing herself for what college is going to be like. “I’m taking AP classes which help, but college is only my focus at school.” Orozco mentioned about being prepared.
Freshman Logan Becker, has also been thinking about college, although he doesn’t see it as his main or most important focus right now. “I’d rather focus on high school than focus on college right now, I’ll focus on college in my later years. That’s my own thought process.” Becker explained.
As an underclassmen with some resources available there is the idea of life after high school put onto you. But it’s not as necessary as it would be for upperclassmen, so it’s up to you if that’s something that you should prepare for.
“My teachers have not prepared me for college. Um, I think teachers of higher classes—like AP and honors—might prepare you, but the average class is doing just fine.” Teachers provide the access for students to prepare themselves educationally, but it’s not required for students to actually try. That’s something a student has to decide for themselves.
Whether you’re an underclassman, upperclassman, or any kind of student, you have been pressured into focusing on or caring about college. While that gets to some, some brush off the idea that it is the end of your education. One could be ready for college the day they get to school, another might not care until their senior year. College is a big part of life, not just educationally, but emotionally.
Ultimately, college plays a major role in many students’ lives. Even if you don’t choose that path, preparing for life after high school is something that stresses all students, But whether you start preparing early or wait until the last possible moment, there is no single “right” timeline. What counts is making choices that support your goals, your growth, and your future.
