I’ve spent the last week attending graduation ceremonies. As always it is inspirational to hear the stories of graduates who have overcome many life obstacles. They spoke of the family spirit within their schools through the relationships they had with their teachers and fellow students. They reflected on all the experiences of school and life and had the stories and connection to the world that they were leaving.
They predicted a good future for themselves and for their graduating class. It was full of hope and good perspectives on the possibilities that would be before them. Yet there was a sense of some of the uncertainties as well.
I began to think about the typical graduate from high school. Experts often refer to this period as a time of post-graduate depression and some difficult emotions that become a part of their emotional responses to graduation. It does have some stressors that we should be cognizant of when we encounter them in this phase of life.
If you think about what they have lost as a result of graduating, the list becomes compelling. They have lost their daily rigor of a schedule – at school they have a place to be every period, they have a scheduled lunch, they have to wake on time and have a complete routine for each day that may vary some but has a rigid sequence of places to be and things to do.
They also lose a sense of their identity as a student, which has been in place for the greater part of their lives. They belonged to a school, a community and had all kinds of involvement in community and school events. In their very introductions they often would associate themselves with their school.
They also will have a different relationship with many of their friends. I know for me once I graduated, my classmates dispersed to universities, other communities, jobs and became distant to me. I think that is not an unusual experience for most high school graduates. What seemed to be lasting friendships can be lost or certainly changed forever.
Then there is the uncertainty of what is next. Even a university experience will be very different from high school with all new students, routines and responsibilities. If they are entering the job market they will be trying to figure out where to work, how they will do in performance and what kind of environment they may be working in.
If we take a step back, we will recognize that all of these changes can be more than stressful, can create anxiety and/or depression and lead to some difficult emotions and behaviors. If you know or are responsible for a high school graduate, it would be a great idea to check in with them to see how they are processing all these changes and are coping with their losses and stressors. It can be a difficult phase of life that may feel overwhelming. I am sure a listening and safe friend will help them normalize their feelings and find ways to cope with all that they are experiencing, even in the midst of all the changes of graduating.
Gerry Vassar
President/CEO
