Post High-School Hole: How to Help Students Avoid It
Four p.m. was like the basement in your home. You complained about the smelly, unfinished spaces, and how you were afraid of the wooden beams that cast too-sharp shadows. Almost, but not quite, your father once said. Four p.m. felt that way, too. Almost, but not quite afternoon anymore. Almost, but not evening. Yet. You told your sister about it, who became confused. She asked you if you fell into a post-high school hole.
You recalled a wintry morning before the pandemic began. You wanted to finish high school forever, and the thought of never having to attend high school again made you get off the bed immediately. (And it happened on a Sunday.) Your sister didn't sympathize with you at all, as she recalled that she didn't have any plans after graduation. And she was too tired to make a plan. She was burnt out by years of study. (Reading - and analyzing - a Shakespeare tragedy took her an hour. Writing a paper about it took another hour or two.) It was a reality that set in, but she didn't wallow in it. (She became a dog nanny to your neighbor's adorable German Shepherd, who was once trained to be a guardian dog to an elderly individual with a disability. But the dog had anxiety issues during training.) If not for the part-time job, she could've fallen into the post-high school hole. She figured out that your generation had the misfortune of finishing high school during the pandemic. She might be right.
You noticed how your friends appeared to be less capable of dealing with disappointments (while they voiced their displeasure at Warner Bros. not giving the green light on the release of Zack Snyder's "Justice League"). You could've joined a club, outside your school, where you could've learned persistence, verbal communication skills, and goal-setting strategies, but you wanted to find out if there were teenagers, in your school, who have vacation homes in places like the Maldives or Provence. (Your father's promise of Edinburgh brought you one step closer to belonging.) You were green with envy at your buddies who talked about the cities you've dreamed of and meals you've never eaten. (You would pass the exotic dishes after watching "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom".) You would tell them about your thoughts on Eric Carle's "The Very Hungry Caterpillar", which you wrote a book report on. (They looked impressed.) The digital world may have many positives, but your laptop became your nanny of sorts. (You can't stop looking at those social media updates.) You haven't admitted your addiction, as you were about to complete your secondary education. You could see the light at the end of the tunnel, which would be the only thing that matter at this moment. But marinating in the 24/7 news cycle made you disillusioned about college life. What to do?
What Are Your Significant Concerns About the Future?
What's worrying teenagers? Many teenagers may be too young to worry about the inability to buy their own homes before they turn 30, but Covid-19 hurled a lot of challenges at them; you were stressed at one point, also suffered from chronic anxiety. You haven't shared your concerns with body image. Yet. On the other hand, you were surprised at one of your (high school) mates, an achiever who was often very hard on himself. You were scared to ask him about protective factors in his life. (You might be locked away from your friends, but you were a huge sports fan. You became interested in architecture after joining a virtual tour of The Royal Mile.) Universities have been tipped upside down, but it shouldn't be a reason for despair. Have you been looking at part-time jobs? If not, then ask around. You can chat with your (high school) counselor, if not your favorite (high school) teacher, for any leads. Your curiosity might be piqued (during the chat).
Hope floats. You followed the travels of Scotsman Dean Nicholson and Nala, his pet cat, who was a stray kitten. She was abandoned by her former owners, and the kind-hearted Scot spotted the kitty on a road not too far from Pristina. This kitten became his travel buddy, often resting on his shoulders, and they traveled around Europe for about a year. (A foot injury forced Nicholson to abandon his bicycle in Austria and drive back to Scotland. On a van.) Stories like this one would show that life goes on. The pandemic may have made your life more challenging than what your sister experienced (during pre-pandemic times), but you should learn a thing or two on resilience (or the importance of being resilient). And success favors the bold.
What are your options? It wouldn't be surprising if the pandemic would make more teenagers think about pursuing further studies in science - and medicine. There's nothing nobler than serving the people in need, but it shouldn't blind you from the risks that you would encounter along the way. Does this make arts less appealing? Not at all. As a matter of fact, a creative pursuit is a stress reliever, also a distraction from the hopelessness that some news cycles would project to the audience. If you're considering literature, then you have read some novels where some characters look at arts as an incentive. And this is one way of moving forward. It would make you stop from turning your bread upside down (after you've been told that doing such a thing could change your fortune).
Anxiety Resolved
For the class of 2021, the post-high school hole risks being a lot deeper. If the above didn't improve your mental being, then you must spend more time inside the entertainment sphere.
You won't object to your friend's thoughts on the teaser trailer of Marvel's "Eternals", which reminded him of "2001: A Space Odyssey". (You were reminded of your last holiday in Hawaii.) You won't argue with your sister's rant on Snyder's "Justice League", where the "300" filmmaker was guilty of wallowing in slow-motion action and heroic grandeur. (She wasn't a comic book collector, and she didn't watch the animated series on TV.) And you would shrug your shoulders after your old man would tell you that you lack the hunger to strive for excellence. One more time. Rick Riordan is about to collaborate with Disney+, which excites you. Summer would give you more time to read Edith Hamilton's "Mythology" - and compare it to Riordan's modern depiction of Greek mythology. But you won't read "Iliad". Again.
