Summer is starting to come to an end and, for some people, that means school is getting ready to start. You can be pumped up ready for it to begin or you can be scared for the changes that are coming your way. Changes can be small to large, depending on what is going on in your life. You could just be starting at a different school or you could be getting ready to leave the place you have called your home town.

I remember when I was getting ready for my senior year of high school. I was so excited to start it and get it over with, all at the same time. I was ready to journey through my last year with my best friend, but it was a little more stressful than I originally thought it was going to be. On day one, the school was asking us to start filling out college applications to decide what we wanted to do after high school. I just started the year! I had no clue what I wanted to do after that, let alone where I wanted to go for more schooling. The counselors weren't much help in this dilemma, either. It was my former band director that actually helped me figure out what I wanted to do with my life after high school.

He helped push me to test myself in order to see if that was what I really wanted to do. Not everyone has a caring band director ready to help them figure out their life, so here are a few tips that should help prepare you for graduation.

1. Job Shadow.

When you start to get interested in something, go job shadow someone in that field and see if it's what you really want to do. If you try it out and hate it, then you know it's not what you want to do for the rest of your life. If you loved doing it, then maybe it's the right fit for you.

2. Take advice from family and friends.

When deciding which school to go to, I just started talking to family friends, seeing where they went to college and what it was like. I knew from looking at other schools the type of atmosphere I was looking for. I looked at Jewell and fell in love right away. I knew it was the place I was suppose to be. It could not have been more right for myself.

3. Take the time to search for scholarships.

Now, once you get all that done, you should start looking at scholarships that you can apply for. Some scholarships require you pursue a specific degree in order to be eligible. If you're still undecided, avoid these specific applications. Be sure to find the scholarship opportunity that fits your situation best. Do not just fill out some, fill out all of the applications that you can. This gives you a better chance of getting some kind of scholarship, because you won't get every one you apply for.

Once all of that is done, you are ready to finish high school. You are now good to graduate, because you know where and what you are doing after high school. This is going to be the next part of your life journey, but do not wish high school's passing too quickly. Once it is over, you can never go back and make new memories.