It's the best time of the year! You're a senior in High School getting ready to graduate, and you cannot wait for this next stage of your life. But there is one daring and resented question, "What are you going to do next?" It's a scary yet exciting thought, but the reality is that no High School counselor will tell you is that there are more options than just college!

When I was in High School getting ready to apply for colleges, 4-year colleges were strongly suggested, and were persuaded to apply to them. Not once was I told by a counselor about other options. What about community colleges? Or trade schools? Or even beauty school? What about options for the students who didn't want to go to school and wanted to go right into a job? This is what needs to be pushed more. Options need to be given.

Going to a 4 – year university right out of High School is archaic. For some people it can be great, but for others it's not so great. Thinking about what you're going to do after High School is important and needs to be carefully thought about. We need to start telling high school students that going to community college is okay, going to a trade school is okay, and that they won't be a "failure" for not going straight into a 4 – year university.

Going to a community college will save you so much time and money. It is the best decision I have made. I was lost with what I wanted to do and going to community college first helped me realize that. There is so much stress and pressure on high school seniors to "do the right thing." How do you know what the right thing to do is? It isn't always easy to know, but you will come to realize with time. I didn't know what I wanted to major in until I left my community college, and I'm still not positive on what type of career I will have, but that is perfectly normal. We are all so young and we have time. We have plenty of time.

We all need to learn that no matter what choice the student makes, it is their choice and we should be proud of that choice. Not one person is better than the next because they are going to college and the other isn't. That is no way to go through life thinking you're better than the next person.

Everyone blossoms at different times. Be patient, be strong, and be motivated to make the choice that is best for you, and not for anyone else.