As senior year comes to an end, seniors are becoming ready to embark on their new journeys of being adults. Some students are going on to college, trade school, enlisting in the military, taking a gap year, and some are joining the workforce. But what all these new experiences have in common is that they are some of our first major decisions as adults. But does the senior class of 2026 feel prepared to go out in the real world as adults? 

For many students, being financially independent is one of the most intimidating parts of being an adult. While most students feel extremely confident in their career and academic paths, things like the cost of living, education, and taxes have students feeling concerned. Senior Abigail Diamond says, “I feel ready in all aspects of adulthood, except financially, like paying for tuition.” Senior Lily Wiers had to say this about her future financial responsibilities, “I’m not ready because I know my needs are expensive, and I don’t want to pay for that.” From another perspective, senior Natalie Burdick says, “Yes, I feel ready to be financially independent because I have always been good with my money and where I spend it.”

However, not all seniors feel the same sense of uncertainty. Some students have said that they feel prepared in all aspects of adulthood and all the responsibilities. Senior Luna Nunez says, “I do feel ready for adulthood, and I think I’ve been ready for a while now. I’ve known what I wanted to do with my life from the very beginning, and that’s what I’m off to do now!” Similarly, senior Sarah Garvey said, “I feel like I’m very ready to take on the responsibilities of an adult, and even though it may be challenging at times, I’m ready to take on whatever life has to throw at me.”   

All of these differing perspectives show that readiness for adulthood looks different for everyone, and the Class of 2026 is ready for success.

Jack Stanton, Staff Leader

Senior Jack Stanton is a staff leader for the 2025-2026 Colonel News site. He is a Certified Nursing Assistant, loves a vanilla iced latte, and loves Beyonce!