Choosing my path

In high school, I have been able to discover myself and find out who I am as a person. Each year has been special and unique in its own way. My journey through school has been tough, especially because I decided to not only focus on academic work but also invest quality time in extracurricular activities—while also adapting to school during the pandemic.

Going back to school this coming fall has elicited a jumble of emotions for teachers, students and parents, who all want to see students back in the classroom. But, everyone is also scared of the risks that come with in-person learning.

I am pretty nervous about going back to school in-person because I haven’t been in a classroom for almost two years. But I have chosen to go back to school because it’s so much better for me. I can get physical help, meet new friends and see old friends that I have not seen for a long time in-person.

I was in grade 11 when the pandemic forced schools to go online. Switching to virtual schooling was very difficult for me because I had no idea how the computers worked and my grades dropped really low. This really affected my mood. I was afraid of failure and suffering from change. 

School wasn’t the only change in my life. I was involved with my school’s soccer and basketball teams. These sports include physical contact, and so I couldn’t play when the pandemic started. I had to give up playing games with other people which also affected my mood as I haven’t been able to have as much fun as I used to.

Now, going into my senior year, I know how important it is and that is why I must use my time efficiently. There are many goals I hope to accomplish during my final year. Graduation is my top priority because if I do not graduate, my future will be in jeopardy. 

The transition from online school to in-person school will be a big change. With in-person school, I believe I will get a better education because teachers will pay more attention to the students and students won’t get as distracted. Teachers will have more time for one-on-one meetings with students and students will have more options to determine the specific learning methods best suited for them. These are the experiences I can’t wait to have when I return to school for the 2021-22 school year.

My senior year is also one of big decisions I must make. The first important decision is whether to go to college or not. Up until senior year in high school, I feel that students have access to all the help they need to get by. After high school is a new world, where many students are on their own and begin to form their own lives. 

I know that clubs and extra activities are very important for college acceptance. I hope to gain more experience in the areas in which I have been training for and work hard at soccer so that I can get a scholarship. To me, getting into college is the first step in being successful and is currently the main goal in my life. I hope to get accepted to a college or university by the end of my senior year. My schedule will be busy in the future but, although it may be stressful, I am excited for the change. 

I believe that college is important for bettering our society, but it is also important for bettering our own individual lives and community. Students must work hard to prepare themselves for the real world after high school because that is where it becomes more difficult, which is why they should attend class and work hard in high school to have a secure future. 

Throughout my experience, I learned that high school is a learning experience and a challenge for me. There are many lessons to learn, not just about the school curriculum but also about yourself: who your friends are and your strengths and weaknesses. 

I also have God to thank because I wouldn’t have made it through these past four years without Him. He was with me the entire journey all throughout this year, even in the moments where it seemed like he wasn’t. 

With this, and all the lessons I’ve learned, I am going to be successful in the future ahead of me. Choosing what to become is considerably easy, but accomplishing that goal is a whole different story. It will be a long journey and will take many important decisions to get there, but I am ready for what comes next. 

About the author

Evbakhoe Elaiho

Editorial Intern

Evbakoe Elaiho is an editorial intern at Youth Mind. Currently finishing her last year of high school, she is looking forward to playing lots of soccer and starting university next year. When not doing work for school, you can find Evbakhoe watching Chinese dramas like A River Runs Through It.

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