As decision day passed, it became apparent to me that it is not a day of celebration for everyone. Yes, it is interesting to see what colleges your friends got into and what their majors will be, snap a photo with friends and imagine how different the next four years will be. But there are more emotions than what is seen when driving by the front lawn on May 1.

For those unfamiliar with decision day, it is when most seniors know what college they are going to commit to. At South, it is a tradition that seniors wear the shirt of what college they are attending for everyone to informally see where they are going.

Although you may go to the same high school as someone, this does not mean that you have been granted the same opportunities. Someone who is attending an Ivy League school most likely has a support system of people behind them along with financial compensation to help them get into that school, while a student of the same academic abilities that got into all the same schools could not have the means to pay for it.

The purpose of our time at South is to put us on a path to success once we graduate. Decision day makes it appear as if there is only one path for success– attending a selective four-year college. As students, we can pretend that we are not all looking at the schools that people got into and making judgements, but we are. This is a harmful mindset because there are infinite pathways to success. By recognizing this, we are able to acknowledge that a four-year university, trade school, the military or entering the workforce are all viable gateways to success.

I myself feel immense pressure to get outstanding grades, be as involved in the school as possible and play sports to keep up with my peers at a competitive school. I fear that when decision day comes around for me, I will be embarrassed of where I am going to school. I know I am going to find a college, regardless of status, that is a good fit for me. I would like to celebrate all of the accomplishments of my classmates and cheer for their post graduation plans. Let’s find a way to expand decision day from a college selection day to include everyone’s plans.