As the first semester at Carihi comes to a close, some grade 12 students are preparing to graduate.
Graduating early leaves time to branch out and explore the world, as well as transition into adulthood.
Why sit around completing unnecessary courses and waiting for prom to roll around, when you could be exploring the world, accumulating funds or starting post-secondary education?
School, however, is free, and the excitement of the end of high school is important to some people.
If a student has got enough credits (a system in which ‘points’ are awarded for completed courses. You need 80 to graduate.) and has taken the classes in the area they plan on going into then they have the option to leave school, either a year or a semester early.
“When I was in grade 9 I wanted to graduate one year early but it became less of a focus. This year it worked out that I had enough credits to finish half way through,” Said Megan Block, a grade 12 student at Carihi.
Missing prom isn’t such a big deal for some students. The cost of extravagant celebration and outfits can be put towards things that will affect them in the long term.
“Instead of buying a fancy dress I can visit the Louvre and explore Greece and Italy,” Block said.
The pressure that is put on people who are approaching the end of high school is huge.
Graduating signifies the end of childhood. But are all people ready to become adults at the same time.