As the year draws to a close, there is one thing on everyone’s mind: college. Whether you are a senior preparing to leave the hallowed halls of RMHS, or a junior approaching their senior year and the world beyond, it is at the top of the minds of so many.
To many, this is a time of excitement and opportunity. However, it can also be a time of extreme stress and anxiety. Standardized tests, GPA's, extracurricular activities, and awards are just a few items amongst the endless to-do lists which dictate the everyday.
Most are trapped in the middle, playing a balancing act between feeling a sense of hope for a new and different future, and experiencing incredible nervousness over a complete upheaval of the life that has been cultivated for so many years.
Lucky for all of us at RMHS, the Guidance Department is able to work with us step by step to contemplate and comprehend all of the parts that come together to form this life milestone. In order to better understand all of the aspects that form this imperative decision.
Personally, my overall stress level has increased significantly during this college process. According to Mrs. Sarah Meunier, I am not alone in this struggle, “...it’s human to be stressed when faced with a new experience and planning for the future!”
For many, this stress can stem from a feeling of unpreparedness; uncertainty plagues many, as you never truly know what schools are looking for, or if what you have done will ever be enough. Meunier furthered this notion, “The hard part for me is seeing the student who maybe didn’t quite make the connection to plans after high school during the first years of high school. Then, when faced with the reality of college coming sooner or later, that stress level can be overwhelming for some students.”
However, even if a nerve-wracking realization occurs because of a lack of preparation for the post-high school world, you are never left scrambling at the last minute. Meunier emphasized the importance of this sentiment, “We start during junior year for a reason, so that you can take the process on slowly and make mistakes, and still feel like you made the right decision for you in the end.”
Beginning at a very early time with mandatory scheduled meetings with guidance counselors dedicated strictly to college is a crucial variable in this equation, as many students would probably not be tempted to schedule these meetings otherwise. It not only allows every student to start on the same playing field regarding their level of support, but also opens up an important opportunity to many who would never think to do so.
The amount of times that students continue to see their guidance counselors following the initial meeting varies, however this first meeting may encourage students to schedule them more regularly. Meunier says, “Some students need very little in terms of support. Other students I see a significant amount, every day, sometimes multiple times a day. This varies, I believe, for a number of factors, including the personality of the individual, but also how much support they are getting in other places, i.e. family, friends, etc.”
Many feel fear because they feel that they will be alone in this process, undergoing all of this stress by themselves. However, not only is there an entire network of staff to reach out to, but also fellow students. The fact that everyone is in the same boat can give incredible amounts of comfort and solace to the individual. As Mrs. Meunier said, “In my opinion, asking for help when you need it most makes you a stronger person.” In a place where the importance of community is ever so stressed, we are now able to put that value to the test and turn to our fellow students in times of mutual stress, joy, and everything in between.