There are many reasons why I have decided to graduate early. Many people seem to think it is so I can be lazy or because I think I am better than the rest of the senior class. These menial things have absolutely nothing to do with my decision.
For the past three and half years, I have noticed how much my peers have loved high school. I often hear students say that high school will be the best years of his or her life. I have even heard as far as one saying that his or her life will simply be over after graduation or a few years after that.
I couldn’t disagree more. In my opinion, if high school has been the best years of my life, I certainly don’t have much to look forward to. Maybe I feel this way because I have chosen to avoid drinking and partying, which seems to be a common form of entertainment for others. I have never had an interest in partying because I have seen how negatively it can affect one’s future. Seeing the consequences happen to others has taught me that underage drinking is just too risky.
Drama is another big factor in my decision to graduate early. I think many would agree with me when I say that drama is one of the worst parts about high school. The harder you try to stay out of the drama, the more you get sucked into it. Even if you aren’t in the drama, you constantly hear about the drama in others’ lives. You hear about this “exciting” news in the hallway or in the cafeteria. Unfortunately, I find it rather annoying and immature.
Even though I have always tried to avoid it, I have dealt with my fair share of drama in my high school career. I am ready to be away from the bullies that have messed with me in high school. Whether they said mean things about me to my face or posted negative things about me online, I am ready to be away from this immaturity. In the moment, I thought that what was happening to me was awful. Looking back, I realize that those bullies taught me a lot. They taught me that someone is always going to have something negative to say, no matter how nice you are to them. I have learned not to let the immaturity and insecurity get me down.
Another big part of my decision to graduate early is friends. I have a small group of friends at Jacksonville High School and a few of them are also graduating early. However, the majority of my friends are older and have already graduated or go to another school.
Since I will not be at Jacksonville High School for eight hours a day for five days a week, I will be taking a full load of classes at Lincoln Land Community College. Since a semester at LLCC is a lot cheaper than a semester at the University of Missouri, which is where I will be attending in the fall, I will be saving money. I will also be getting a part-time job to make a little extra money. I am very excited for this big change.
Even though I am extremely excited to graduate early, there are some things that I will miss about Jacksonville High School. I will miss writing for the Crimson J, running passes for student services, my friends, and the freshmen and other REFs in my advisory. Regardless of these things, I know graduating early was the best choice I could have made for myself.