By: Rebecca McCulloch, Grade 12

Your browser may not support display of this image. With the school year winding down, all of the students are preparing for summer, but the seniors are planning for something a little different. Unlike for all of the other students who will return next year, the end of senior year is the end of high school and marks the beginning of the rest of our lives. When we graduate on June 12th ,we will no longer be the Phoenixville Phantoms. Some of us will be the Penn State Nittany Lions, West Chester Rams, Kutztown Golden Bears, Bloomsburg Huskies, University of Delaware Blue Hens, Saint Joe’s Hawks, etc. And after that, some of us will go on to become doctors, lawyers, teachers, engineers, and burn-outs…well, hopefully not. There are so many things to look forward to, but there is also a lot to leave behind. Although we might all complain about Phoenixville, when it comes down to it, we’re all going to miss it.

The Good.

Graduating high school is an exciting time. Everyone is getting ready for summer and college. There is so much to get excited about when thinking about college: independence, roommates, dorms, classes, parties, clubs, sports, and more. Gaining your independence is probably one of the most exciting things about college. No more parents nagging, “Where are you going?”, “What time will you be home?”, “Who’s driving?”, or “Where are you really going?” College offers the freedom to do whatever you want, whenever you want.

Then there is the whole roommate situation. There are two options: room with someone you know or have a roommate selected at random. Either way, it offers the opportunity to get close to someone you already know or to meet someone new. Personally, I think that choosing a roommate at random is part of the college experience. It’s exciting to leave it up to chance.

Another great thing about college is choosing your classes. College is so different from high school because you get to major in the classes you are interested in. Also, each semester students only have to manage four to five classes, whereas in high school we have seven classes at a time. It gives students the ability to focus on each class rather than juggling too many at a time.

But honestly, what every senior is thinking about are parties, sports, and clubs. College has so many opportunities to get involved it’s kind of hard not to. Whether you’re joining a frat or sorority, playing for a sports team, singing in the choir, or just rooting for the basketball team, you’re bound to get involved in some way.

The Bad.

Although graduating and going to college has many perks, there are some downsides. A big one that most people struggle with is paying for college. Over the years college has gotten so expensive that it forces students to base their choice of college by their financial situation. With the current economic situation, many families are struggling to make ends meet and sending children off to college doesn’t make it any easier.

Also, leaving high school can be tough. Some students have become extremely involved and have to leave their teams or the clubs they have joined. It’s hard to say goodbye to teammates whom you have played with for up to four years. You get comfortable with your routine and you know the coaches, so leaving can be difficult. Also, students who have attended different sports games can no longer cheer on the Phoenixville Phantoms as a student at PAHS. Students have also become close with different teachers and administrators, and leaving can be sad.

Finally, a lot of responsibility comes with going to college. This includes paying for tuition, cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, etc. Although college is really exciting, with great opportunity comes responsibility.

The Ugly.

Possibly the hardest thing to do is to say goodbye to friends and family and start a new life. We all have that group of friends that is going to be nearly impossible to leave…those people that you can tell anything to and hang out with all the time. It’s nearly impossible to imagine yourself meeting new people that could ever compare with them. And for those of you who have to break off relationships, that can’t be easy. Saying goodbye to someone that you have been with for so long or even someone who you have just recently fallen for cannot be easy. And for those of you who are going to try to make a long distance relationship work…that won’t be easy either. Although it’s hard, leaving friends, family, and boyfriends/girlfriends we’ll all get through it. We will all go our separate ways and make new friends, but hopefully we will all come back to visit and keep in touch.

Graduation is a big step in everyone’s life and with it comes the good, the bad, and the ugly. Hopefully, we will all graduate, have a great summer, and then start the rest of our lives. It’s going to be hard to say goodbye, but college is going to be a great experience and we’re all going to have a lot of fun. Congratulations class of 2009!