The pungent smell of molten zinc on a warm summer evening served as a constant reminder that the “galv shop” was a place for the hardened and that the extra eighty cents or so an hour would be a heavy tax on the lungs. Over the three summers that I spent working at Wheatland Tube as a “Green Hat”, the derogatory term used by the “Yellow Hat” or regular workers, I dealt with a mix of emotions and questions about the type of person I’d like to become in this world. Green Hat positions were semi-coveted by the Western Pennsylvania population of undergrads because the local mills, long the dominant employer in the valley, paid well and looked good on a resume if you planned on being a permanent “townie.” My father, like his father and his father before him, started work each day at seven, three, or eleven o’clock, rotating each week with no prospects or cares for management or the people doing the managing. I had managed to gain a Green Hat position at the mill directly in competition with that which had provided employment for my family. It was not intentional but looking back, in a way I suppose it did have angst in the decision underpinnings. Not so much by choice but rather the nature of the work, I would go on to work incredibly hard for seventy-two hours a week, three months out of the year, every trip home from college. I graduated high school with not so much as an idea, let alone a plan for the future. I remember seeing the program for high school graduation wherein it was listed where everyone would be matriculating and what they would be doing. Seeing the boxes blank next to my name, my only thought at the time was “when did this get passed around?” Later that summer, at the time working at a steel building fabr... ... middle of paper ... ...I left off, quickly advancing through the ranks. As an IT professional for the past seven years, I have integrated systems and processes around the world for some of the world’s largest companies, filling my mind and passport to the seams in the process. In addition to my world travels for work and pleasure, I’ve lived all over the United States with the people I now call friends, from a year full of weekends in New York city to the hills of Austin, settling on the slopes of the Rockies in Denver. All of this is sometimes hard for me to believe, usually around the holidays when I return home to the one red light town I grew up in and see the ghosts of a former life. With this all said, to know me, and what drives me, is to appreciate the smaller understandings of the world and how experiencing a life less ordinary can sometimes change the very air we breathe.
In poetry, figurative language and poetic devices are used to convey meaning. The literal meaning of the poem is a parent narrating her kid’s journey walking to school alone, but figuratively the poem is describing the emotions of the parents and child’s reaction to the child’s gaining independence. The poem, “The Red Hat” by Rachel Hadas uses several poetic devices and figurative language. The poem uses imagery and symbolism to convey its meaning.
People after high school should have a plan, well at least an idea. That idea will depend on the person and the person’s idea of what they want to do for themselves after high school. I am sure that no one’s parents will say to their kid,” stay home and not go to work”. Let’s say a person wants to go to the Coast Guard, well that is very vague and there are many things the Coast Guard offers. Let’s say they wanted to go to the Coast Guard but didn’t know how. Here’s how to get started.
In conclusion, I realized that my future depended on what I was willing and able, to make of it. I had to make the decision to put my fears behind me and move forward with the opportunities that would be available to me after I earned a college degree. I want to work in a career field that I went to school for and earned a degree for, not to just work at an everyday job, being overworked, under paid and unappreciated. I look forward to the day of graduation when I can be an encouragement to others experiencing these same issues and an inspiration to my children.
It's unbelievable how each year, since the beginning of high school, my perfectly laid plans for myself have unavoidably deteriorated. When I entered my freshman year, I had aspirations of being a doctor (something I had wanted to be since I was a child). Now, here I am entering my senior year in high school without any idea of what I want to do. Now seems to be the time to start taking life seriously and making responsible, educated choices.
The world around us is forcing us to grow up faster than it used to and I wanted to hold on to my youth a little longer. There is a quote that states “In life it is important not to get too comfortable” (Unknown). After high school it’s easy for a lot of kids to just take a year off or go to community college because it’s the “comfortable” thing to do.
Central Idea: Many students feel like they are moving on after high school with no knowledge of real life situations.
Four stressful years, 28 credits, and innumerable hours of no sleep. I will walk across stage and receive my diploma with a grin of accomplishment. I am proud to share that I will be the first high school graduate in my families generation, but I do not want to settle for a high school diploma I want to honor my family and complete
You go three years of high school preparing for college and at the same time having fun. Until you are in your senior year of high school that’s when you realize and start asking your self what college do I want to go to? Or what college career I want to pursue? That’s when you notice you have but so little time to answer these questions. Me I’m in my last year of high school and I though I already knew what career I wanted to pursue, but its now that I notice that not even I know what I’m going to do with my life? All I’m sure of its that I’m going to graduate out of high school with a diploma and that I’m going to college. But what happens after that? What major did I study? Or where did I go to accomplish my goal?
I have to admit that I will not look fondly on my high school career. I spent most of my study time going out with my friends. I felt that I was paying my dues with the eight hours of boredom that began most of my days. Until now there were only a few classes that I enjoyed. In retrospect, I believe that it was my inability to choose the classes I took which resulted in my lack of enthusiasm on the ride to school each morning.
As a result of the Gap year, students develop a greater sense of self. Potential university students are in “a liminal life course position, neither dependent children or fully independent adults.” (King) The Gap year aids young people to identify with themselves as they come to terms with their changing status. The year prepares students for the “self-directedness and maturity” that is needed when entering postsecondary intuitions. And in turn, it reflects higher performance outcomes, better career choices, and other life skills that can be applied to various tasks. The gap year provides a possible clarity to tough decisions by unveiling goals and intentions around post high school plans that may not have been considered during high school. (Martin) By increasing the levels of self-confidence, maturity, and independence, the gap year opens door to opportunities that might not have been available or acknowledged during high school. Ensuring for a smooth transition form high school to university, “ the Gap year represents an individualized form of life planning, a forum for young people to reflexively construct a se...
In the light of my junior year summer, I was stuck shuffling through unemployment after being laid-off my sales position at Traffic shoes in order to offer a full-time position to one of the other seasonal employees. Following suit came a desperate search for employment opportunities, which ended when I was finally secured a position as a team member at my local Dunkin Donuts.
I knew that right after high-school, I would be on a new road to life. For me, college wasn’t a choice. Even though it was pushed on me by my family as I grew older, I knew myself that I wanted to be the one to help my family out and I was determined to be successful. I planned to be successful the same way that I did in high-school. By going to college, you will always have your education to fall back on no matter what i...
What will I do for the rest of my life? Every person asks this question at some stage of their life, usually during their later teenage years. As a high school junior, I am now asking myself this question. After considerable thought, I have devised a tentative plan for my future. I realize that some of these plans and goals may change over time, but with a plan, the first steps of the journey can begin. To prepare me for the journey, I have taken very challenging high school curriculum, such as Honors and Advanced Placement courses. These classes will not only assist in my admission to college, but have also helped me to develop strong study skills and time management.
Society tells us that after high school we must go to college and get a degree if we want to obtain success. For me going to college was the goal ever since I was a small child. Everyone in my family has gotten some form of post-secondary education. With a family like that ever Since the early ages of childhood as far I can remember my parents and family member were just always big on telling me I have to go to college to keep to better myself. After I graduated from high school the question in my house was not if I was going to go to college but instead where am I going to go to college. There was no question about if I was going to go to college or not. My parents made it clear that when august came around that year after I graduated from
Graduation: the last day that I would unwillingly set foot on the fields of Horizon High School. I could feel my heart beating out of my chest, and tried so hard to keep my feet moving one after the other in order to maintain my perfect stature. After the two hour wait of opening speeches, class songs, and the calling off of the five hundred plus names that were in front of me, it was finally my turn. As my row stood up and we walked towards the stage it had set in at last, this is it, I am done. My high school career ended on that night, but it didn’t close the book that is my life, it only started a new chapter, and with it came a whole slue of uncertainties.