With the 2025-2026 school year in full swing, Centennial High School seniors have already taken the first steps on pathways for their lives after high school, working hard towards the futures they seek.
Having considered opportunities like a four-year college, the military, and many more, seniors are completing Common App and Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) processes, recording the accumulation of their efforts thus far. This crucial stage of their lives is both a stressful and complicated process full of difficult decisions that spark conversations throughout the student body and staff as the spotlight shifts toward what these soon-to-be adults will be doing in life.
Alongside the rigorous work they complete for their classes, jobs, and more, seniors generally report a feeling of being overwhelmed or stressed having to juggle several things at once. Undergoing exhausting processes, seniors may feel anxious about what lies ahead of them, wondering where they will end up.
For students considering attending college, the Common App process is one of the biggest obstacles that looms over them. Having to write an English essay about a book may be hard, but having to write an essay about themselves—who they are, their values, their identity—is very complex and demanding.
The Common App essay is considered to be the part that students struggle heavily with because they need to take a step back to properly convey themselves to admission officers.
“It’s been hard trying to come up with a good topic for it. I don’t really know where to start,” an anonymous senior said.
Some choose to write about a private experience, while others describe something that they invested significant time in. Ultimately, they all work towards identifying and expressing core experiences as well as values that make them special, that will contribute to the campuses they applied to.
While putting a lot of thought into what they write, Centennial seniors take on the high volume of writing that is added when considering supplemental essays as well. Overall, there are mixed feelings. Although there is pressure on perfecting their writing, seniors demonstrate a level of excitement, being able to express their authentic selves and find their own voices.
Even when applications are complete, another obstacle stands in the way: money. Application fees alone can run upwards of roughly $100 per school, and financial aid may not always make such opportunities openly accessible.
While scholarships are available to students for various merits and accomplishments, they rarely cover the full cost or nearly enough for enrollment. For some Centennial students, the financial burden limits their choices when it comes to higher education.
On the other hand, some seniors are choosing to take another path: that being the military. With recruiters offering both enlistment options and the ROTC, students find themselves an alternative to the typical college route.
Seniors have the choice of a path that can cover full tuition at many colleges, along with additional stipends for housing and books, in exchange for a service commitment after graduation. The program allows students to pursue a typical college experience while also preparing for future military leadership roles.
Senior Zakir Raufov said, “I’ve been looking at ROTC for a while, . . . it’s nice to know there’s an option like that somewhere.”
Still, students exploring ROTC weigh the trade-offs. The blend of college classes and training can be demanding, and students are obligated to serve as officers in various branches of the military if they receive an ROTC scholarship or complete the Advanced Course (junior and senior year).
Regardless of the decision they make, seniors have a lot resting upon them right now—from higher education to future careers; they have their whole lives ahead of them. It is an exciting time that draws feelings of optimism as Centennial seniors hope to continue their growth beyond high school.
For some, the discipline and cost are worth it; for others, the commitment appears daunting. Centennial’s seniors are still in the thick of essays, applications, and decision-making. Whether they pursue college, scholarships, military service, or another route, the next few months will set the stage for the futures they’ve worked toward.
