Where will we be in five years? (Erykah Foss)

1/20/2020

As seniors, we are about to learn about a whole new level of independence after graduation. Many of us will go to college or find a full-time job, start paying bills for school or rent, and live with roommates who will most likely be strangers. With this major shift in life, it is crucial that we start planning and preparing, emotionally and physically, for these new, adult responsibilities we will inevitably have to face.

But how do we prepare? It is difficult to plan our future when we only have our imagination to form it. We need experience and knowledge of our occupational interests, especially when we are in high school. We also need to know how to budget so that we do not go into debt when we pay taxes and other bills.

We should also be excited about the new opportunities adulthood will bring. College offers a variety of courses and clubs, and there are hundreds of thousands of interesting jobs to consider. My questions for you are as follows: Where do you see yourself in five years? What sort of activities do you see yourself participating in? How do you feel about our next big change? What personal strengths do you rely on when facing a new challenge? What support system do you plan on using? What are the most meaningful steps are you taking to prepare? What opportunities do you wish you could have pursued to prepare that were simply not available to you?

37 Comments

Paige Hilton

1/20/2020 07:28:08 pm

It is difficult to know where I will be in five years, I have dreams and aspirations, goals and plans, but as I think about five years from now, I have no idea how many of my plans will come to past. However, I know what I enjoy, and where I see myself flourishing. I want to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Once my service ends, five years from now should be my senior year at Brigham Young University-Idaho. I can see myself completing my Bachelor's of Health Science at that time, and running on their cross country team.
This next big change gives me anxiety at times but also fills me with excitement. The next five years will shape and alter the rest of my life: what occupation I will have, who I will marry, where I will live, what activities I will participate in and so much more.
In all honesty, I will rely heavily on my parents to help me through the next few years of my life. I have a great relationship with my parents and know I will be calling them for help and advice constantly.
As I think on how I went about high school and the ways I prepared for college I realize that I did not do as much as I should have to ready myself for this next phase of my life. I should have taken more Dual Credit classes, worked harder on my assignments, and started college prep earlier than I did.
Overall, I cannot wait to be on my own and work hard in each and every new transition of my life.

Tori Weir

1/21/2020 08:16:08 pm

It is crazy how life will change really quickly once we go out on our own. What are you looking forward to the most?

Andy Gebhardt

1/26/2020 02:15:10 pm

Hindsight is always 20/20. Unfortunately we cannot go back and change what we did. All we can do is look to the future and try to be prepared for everything we can do we do not look back and wish we had done things differently.

Alyssa Farnworth

1/26/2020 04:48:15 pm

I liked that you recognize what you wish you would of done. There are a lot of things that I regret having not done, but I look forward to taking advantage of every opportunity presented to me in the future. I can't wait to see what you do in the future as I know whatever you do you will be successful in.

Tori Weir

1/21/2020 08:03:44 pm

When I think about it, five years seem to be a long time from now. It is crazy how time flies fast and how my life will change. I do not know what I will be doing or how I am doing in the future but I will most likely be just graduated from college and earning a Bachelors’s in Computer Science. I will also hopefully start working towards my goal of being an ethical hacker or something in cybersecurity. The time between, I want to explore opportunities that will come up and enjoy or learn everything I experience. I also hope that I will be able to go on mission trips for my church and grow from that. There are several other goals that I want to accomplish in the next five years but I honestly have no idea what will happen.
I know for sure that I will be relying heavily on my parents, my older siblings, and my aunt during the future. I am the kind of person who thinks in the present and never really thinks about the future. I take everything one step at a time and this will probably either help me or stress me out even more. As for preparing for the future, I tried to take as many dual credit classes as I can and I also started observing how my sister is dealing with it. Since my older sister is three years older than me, I have an idea of what I will be facing and how I will deal with similar situations she deals with right now. Although I do wish that there were more opportunities to take more various classes in high school and in Salmon to help me with either my future career or situations. The future is scary to think about but at the same time, I feel that I am ready to go on to the next stage of life.

Kately

1/23/2020 08:19:02 am

I agree, it’s often intimidating. It’s more comforting to know that you’ll grow, becoming more equip to face problems

Madicyn

1/23/2020 10:11:39 am

I thought that watching my sister and how she deals with the, "real world", would be very beneficial, but her and I are very different. Brooke now lives in San Diego, California, and is working there. I don't have the same goals as her, but honestly I wouldn't mind following her steps and being on a beach two years after I graduate high school.

Faith

1/26/2020 02:30:33 pm

I also have an older sister who is a great help to me and helps me with whatever adulting advice I might need. What is one thing you wish to do but have doubts about due to money restrictions?

Madicyn

1/22/2020 11:23:14 am

Trying to imagine where I will be in five years seems impossible to me. Most days I don't know what my next week will be, let alone my next five years. I'm a very indecisive person, trying to create a plan has been very difficult for me. I began thinking about it my junior year, and now we're half way through senior year, and I still don't have much progress with it. There is so many options, and I just want to do them all. I know specific ideas, and goals, but not what to do with them. I know I want to help people, and I know I want to go to college. Boise State University is where I see myself going, I love the city and definitely want to move away from Salmon. But when I think of college, I think of money, and when I think of money, I panic and an entire new set of worries is created in my mind. We also all hear different things from community members, some say to go to college, and figure out your plan from there, and others say not to go until you have an exact plan of what you want to do and accomplish there, in order to save money. I've had job opportunities given to me, but none in a category I can see myself wanting to continue and be happy with. It's crazy to think in five years from now, how much change we will go through, and how all that we know now, will be gone to the past. Almost all the people we've spent the last 4+ years with will now most likely be people that we used to know, and have hundreds of memories with.

Erykah

1/25/2020 09:27:01 pm

Thinking about student loans and college stresses me out, which is why I try to avoid those thoughts. I know it's a bad habit because I keep procrastinating on filling out scholarships, but I hope to get back to it next month.

Andy Gebhardt

1/26/2020 02:13:54 pm

I agree that thinking about certain aspects of college are unsettling. There are so many unknowns that we are unsure of. Do you think your plans have changed for your future within the last few years?

Faith

1/26/2020 02:27:47 pm

Money really is one of the hardest things to think about when thinking of the future. If money was not one of your main worries, what would you want to spend your time doing?

Alyssa Farnworth

1/26/2020 04:55:38 pm

It is crazy thinking about how much truly changes in five years. Looking back at my own life five years ago it was completely different. Through the ups and downs I have learned a lot. I can't wait to see where the future takes you, because even through your uncertainties you are incredibly determined to live your best life.

Brax Kauffman

1/26/2020 05:05:21 pm

That’s a great idea and I’m happy you are trying to figure things out. Do you think you may have a child, planned or not, in this time period?

Kately

1/23/2020 08:16:33 am

The future is often scary, but I feel like there’s a good way to approach it to feel more well-equipped. I try to plan reasonably ahead, but not enough to feel overwhelmed. In the next five years, I see myself possibly going to school for computer engineering or some kind of research field. I’ve definitely moved from Salmon at this point, as nice as it is to visit as a tourist, it loses its novelty when you’ve lived here your whole life. I’ll likely stay in state, or maybe the next state over, but again, life can be unpredictable.

Madicyn

1/23/2020 10:14:27 am

Do you think you'll ever move back to Salmon in the future? Many people from Salmon, move away, only to move back to Salmon. Are you excited to leave and explore more of the world since you've lived here your entire life?

Erykah

1/25/2020 09:51:27 pm

I think you would do great in computer engineering. I want to get into the medical field because I love helping people. I also watch surgeries in my spare time, which has influenced my decision as well. Is there something that inspired you to consider computer engineering?

Paige

1/26/2020 02:36:51 pm

It is hard to know what the future will hold when we cannot predict the exact outcomes of the decisions we make.

Aiden

1/26/2020 03:58:23 pm

Life is definitely unpredictable. Plans fall through and change and you never know, maybe you’ll end up back in Salmon.

Andy Gebhardt

1/26/2020 02:11:52 pm

Recently completing senior project was a major step and showcase for the skills we are about to put forward into life. Within a year most of the class of 2020 will be leaving and going into the workforce or to a college. All of the skills and experience we have gained from high school is going to be tested one way or another.
I’m five years I see myself in college and pursuing a degree. I am not entirely certain what it will be but I am fairly sure I will still be in school for a few more years. All through that time I hope to be continuing my interests and staying active as well. Some things I have gained from high school are the lessons about working hard and knowing that I can get anything done. Personally, I know I am the kind of person that will work as much as needed to complete something as long as I want to do it. I see college as this claims of challenge and it is a challenge I am looking forward to.

Paige

1/26/2020 02:39:43 pm

Do you see your work ethic as a lesson you learned in school or as something you were taught in your family? Does this pertain to all areas of your life?

Aiden

1/26/2020 03:56:22 pm

I also don’t know exactly where I’m going with my career or education either so it’s comforting knowing I’m not alone. I want to experience different classes in school to see what I’d like to do.

Faith

1/26/2020 02:25:32 pm

Guessing where I may be in the next five years is rather complicated. No one really ever knows 100% where they will be. My main goals in the next few years are to move to Boise, Idaho and attend school to receive my certificate to be a pharmacist technician. In doing so, I also hope to get a steady career in the pharmacy field, as well as do photography on the side. I did my entire senior project around photography because it is one of my greatest passions, so I hope to educate and improve myself, while also having a steady job with reasonable income and benefits. As for my personal life, I mainly hope to be a happy person. I hope to be in a healthy and happy relationship as well.

Unfortunately, my childhood was not the best of times, and I was pushed to do “adult things” at an earlier age. But this is probably one of my greatest advantages that will prepare me for real adulthood. I feel that I can budget my money well, cook meals for myself as well as others, and be dedicated to whatever job I will be working at. However, there’s tons of things I still don’t know, and that everyone else will have to learn. Such as applying for loans for school, getting a credit card, buying a car, attending college, renting an apartment, etc.

Salmon has been my home for my entire life, so growing up around certain things and certain people will greatly affect the whole process of adjusting to a new place and a new environment. I will most definitely visit Salmon again to see family, but I would not want to live here again. There’s so much more to this world that I am ready to see and experience. Overall, I’m both terrified and excited to take this huge jump into adulthood.

Sabrina

1/26/2020 04:01:06 pm

Although I would never trade places with you, I envy your experience with adult responsibilities. You will be very prepared when you leave Salmon and I can't wait to see where it takes you.

Tori Weir

1/26/2020 04:22:57 pm

After graduating high school and going on with our lives seems scary to think about right now. Thinking about all of the bills, college, and being in new environments will be a change. Do you think that you are ready for the change?

Ezra

1/26/2020 04:48:54 pm

I think that never living here is a pretty strong statement. When I get old I think coming back to where I grew up would be a great time.

Aiden

1/26/2020 03:51:23 pm

I’m five years I could have children. This is such a crazy thought. I’m not ready to be out on my own yet. Let alone have to raise, care for, and support children. After graduating I am going to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. When I return I want to go to college to pursue a degree. I am not entirely sure in what field yet but am optimistic about finding what I want to do. I will be active and continue to play the sports I love. I will focus on saving my money and starting a family. I’m excited for the future.

Ezra

1/26/2020 04:46:54 pm

College sports are legendary, and I think that sports are good to keep pursuing.

Brax Kauffman

1/26/2020 05:03:08 pm

I am glad that you are comfortable with having children in the next couple of years. If that happens may I be the god father.

Brax

1/26/2020 05:03:47 pm

Sabrina

1/26/2020 03:59:01 pm

I've been thinking about the future my entire senior year. High school is easier than what is coming, yes, but I'm ready to move on. I don't think there is a way to truly prepare for the future besides getting advice and learning basic life skills. I don't think I'll know what to expect before it actually happens to me. I have an amazing family, some of which are at the college I intend to attend, so I know I'll have a great support system going into this next phase of life. I've always been pretty outgoing and can appear confident in new situations so I'll rely on that to keep myself from making a total fool of myself.

I plan to earn a bachelor's degree at BYU-I although I don't know my major yet. In five years I'll hopefully have graduated and be married to someone amazing. I want to be a stay-at-home mom but I'll also have something to fall back on with my degree. Of course, that's all I can know at this point. I don't know where geographically or what my financial situation will be, but I think I can be happy with anything. I know where I don't want to be and as long as I avoid those paths, I'm not too worried about where I'll be.

Alyssa Farnworth

1/26/2020 04:40:36 pm

I’m uncertain of where I will be in the next five years. I have a lot of goals that I hope to have completed in that time period. One thing everybody knows to be certain is the unpredictability of the future. Personally, I hope to have a bachelor's degree majoring in some form of medical science with a minor in Criminology. My hope is that I would still be in school working towards a doctoral degree. I will likely have gone to Boise State and will go somewhere else for medical school.

In my personal life, I don’t really know what I want. I do know that I want to be happy and healthy. I will also hope the same for my family and friends. I hope we all achieve the goals we have set for ourselves and achieve success by whatever definition it is to us. I also know that I will no longer be in Salmon, I don’t know where I would like my permanent residence to be, but I know that there is a lot more I want to witness and be apart of. I still have a lot to learn and I’m excited and nervous looking at the future, but I hope to make the best of it.

The people I will rely on most will likely be family and friends I make along the way. I am excited to see how well I will do in a new environment. I am not new to moving around but it will be my first time being alone.

Josephine

1/26/2020 10:29:31 pm

I know that I am going to need my mother's support a lot at first as well. Although I am nervous to experience life on my own, there is going to be a lot to look forward to.

Ezra

1/26/2020 04:44:47 pm

Five years may seem like a long time but it truly is not, it will be sneaking up on us faster than we know it. At this point in my life I do not know what I want to do for the rest of it, and I don't know where I will be in five years. If anything I will probably be in Boise going to school, and some how be part of their hockey association either coaching or playing in a league. Once I am finally done with school is gonna be the next unknown because I don't necessarily want to stay in Boise for the rest of my life, so I will probably move away from my family. I will hope to expand my life for the better and not let anything slow me down, and I just roll with what live gives me. I don't think there really is anyway to prepare for what life throws at you, and that it will always be a mystery.

Brax Kauffman

1/26/2020 04:55:12 pm

In five years a lot of things can happen and it can be difficult to predict how our lives are going to play out. We may change what we plan to do multiple times over the next couple of years. I plan on still being in college trying to obtain a degree. While I do not have a solid idea on what that will be, I know it will have something to do with medicine. Along with this, I hope to continue being active and keeping healthy through exercise and eating well. While I do not plan on being married in this time span you never know what might happen. Hopefully at this time I will have a better idea of what I want to do with my life and will be pursuing that goal no matter what it is. I will still be in contact with my family and a couple of my closer friends.

Josephine

1/26/2020 10:11:25 pm

I still have no idea what I am going to do in college. I have considered going into the medical field as well. If you decide to pursue this option, what do you see yourself doing?

Josephine

1/26/2020 09:56:49 pm

I see myself in five years in college, I am not sure where I am going or what sort of career I want to pursue. I have been putting a lot of thought into this but I still haven't figured it out yet. I would like to experience all that my chosen college has to offer, especially when it comes to theater. I have always loved working with stage lights and doing behind the scenes work. In my school in Oregon, I used to operate spotlights and that sparked my interest to further pressure working with stage lighting in college. Thinking about this next step makes me quite anxious. Being out in the world for the first time is very overwhelming; however, I know that I will always have the support of my family and friends no matter what.

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