By Britni Steiling
Young Voices | Posted: Thursday, May 31, 2007 12:00 am
So long to sweet memories of class parties, state tournaments and Friday night football games.
Never again will we spend hours getting ready for prom, go above and beyond on homecoming decor, or have outrageous after parties.
Soon the jokes won't be funny, the pictures will fade and the memories will grow faint.
As graduation looms on the horizon, we are on the brink of a whole new chapter of our lives.
The question that plagues every high school senior's mind at this point in her life is that of "what now?" We have spent 13 years of our lives in preparation, and it's now time to put that to use. It is up to us to decipher the best way to do that.
As seniors, we are presented with numerous options, such as going to a community college or a university, traveling or getting a full-time job. It is important to take everything into consideration when making this decision, such as finances, input from family and friends and, ultimately, your purpose in life.
Based on personal life experiences such as ministering in Africa and San Francisco, visiting with the elderly at nursing homes and working in elementary classrooms at my school, I have slowly been developing an idea of my purpose in life.
Essentially, the best ambition one can have is to live in a way that serves others.
As a senior, it is easy to fall into the mind set that the world revolves around you. All of the underclassmen are looking up to you, parents are trying to make the most of their last days with you, teachers and coaches are praising you for your commitment, and everyone is congratulating you on the accomplishment of graduation. All eyes are on you, and a conscious effort must be made to reflect the attention back onto others.
While experiencing this struggle, I have learned the importance of service and compassion. I have realized that no matter where my future may lead me, my time will be best spent in serving others.
As I peruse my options for the immediate future, I have tried to take into account the opportunities each choice would present. I primarily want to put myself in a position where I can most effectively fulfill my purpose while gaining valuable information and experience. I hope for my college career to be another stepping stone in reaching my ambitions of serving others and contributing to the world around me.
With every new journey we embark upon, we must ask ourselves what legacy we are creating for ourselves. Will it be a life of compassion or of self-indulgence?
Whichever we choose, we must establish that ambition and set out to achieve it with all of our might.
As Shakespeare said, "Which dreams indeed are ambition, for the very substance of the ambitious is merely the shadow of a dream."
Britni Steiling is a senior at Santiam Christian High School. She will attend Northwest Christian College in the fall with plans to play soccer and study education.