Senior year is full of lasts. Last first day, last homecoming, and last school picture day. But, it’s also full of firsts. First time applying to college, and for most of us, first year of being an adult. But, what about those firsts we don’t often think of?
While many seniors are taught to find the area of a triangle, not many are taught how to change a tire or to pay taxes. I recently turned 18, and I didn’t even know how to register to vote.
To successfully graduate from Lake Forest High School a student must complete four years of English, three years of mathematics, two years of science and social studies, one year of wellness, and at least one semester of consumer education credit. While the push for learning literature and multiplication is understandable, why isn’t LFHS pushing to teach their students how to truly prepare for adulthood?
Although LFHS provides its students with an abundance of courses, some of the most important, like personal finance, law, and economics are not required and poorly advertised to students.
“I started taking accounting this year and for the first time in my high school career, I really feel like I’m learning useful information. The lack of students, especially female students is a little concerning though. I wish more people knew how helpful this class was,” said senior Lexi Bentley.
By making these classes mandatory for graduation, high school students would gain the essential skills they need to succeed in life, and overall, would be better prepared for inevitable situations.
Some high schools have introduced an off-campus program that allows second semester seniors to gain experience through internships or volunteer work. Instead of the typical eight-hour school day, seniors are encouraged to go out into the real world and try a career of their choice in hopes of discovering their future profession.
With encouragement from her anatomy teacher Mrs. Jennifer Gatta, senior Chloe Hvostik was recently accepted into a medical internship that will give her the experience she needs to later start a career in the medical field.
“I’ve always known I wanted to be a nurse, but the programs are very competitive so it’s essential to get as much experience as early as you can,” said Hvostik. “I met Mrs. Gatta my junior year while taking anatomy and she opened up a world of opportunities. With her help, I’ve started interning at Condell Hospital everyday after school. It’s definitely time consuming, but I’m learning so much and I feel a lot more confident applying to nursing programs now.”
With this internship, Hvostik, a standout applicant, will impress colleges and future employers with her abundance of knowledge and experience.
Opportunities like these would not only help seniors gain knowledge of various career paths, but it would supply them with a skill set for working in a professional setting.
While you sit in your English class reading Macbeth ask yourself, do you know how to pay taxes?
