As the end of the 2025 school year approaches, the nerves of De Soto High School seniors grow. Aside from the clear stress-inducers such as moving away from a childhood home, leaving behind loved ones, and letting go of past hobbies, there are additional daunting tasks ahead in the eyes of these new adults.
Some of these tasks can include taxes, food and money budgeting, time management, and new activities to fill free time are all ventures that can leave a young adult feeling overwhelmed as they enter this new stage of life.
For one, taxes must be filed, and can be an intimidating chore to complete, especially if you have no prior experience. To begin, once you turn 19, you must file taxes as an independent, unless you are a full-time student. After this, you can stay on until you are 24 years of age. When you are counting as a dependent, you have to have an income of less than $13,000 a year to avoid filing taxes. If that salary is reached, you have no option but to file your own taxes. To file taxes, you will need significant documents like your Social Security number, W-2s from employers, 1099 forms for additional income, and records of deductions or credits. If needed, you have the ability to file online using IRS-approved software, hire a tax professional, or mail in a paper return. Be sure to fill out the appropriate IRS tax forms (like the 1040), calculate your owed taxes or refund, and submit by the deadline (typically April 15). Keep copies of all forms and receipts for your records in case of an audit. You can find more detailed instructions of how this process is completed on the IRS website.
Although this time of life can be new and exciting, it can also be nerve-racking for students. Because of this, it can be easy to spend cash in a moment of stress and then find it difficult to find a balance of saving and spending. In situations like these, it can be helpful to have a budget. The student needs to think about their wants and needs for the increments of time in-between paydays. This does not mean that the new Taylor Swift album or a new pair of dunks is needed because the color is slightly different from another pair that they have; this means that materials aiding in survival and hygiene are put first and then move down a list of priorities. Make sure to set aside a little bit of money for yourself to spend and indulge with, buy what you need, and then put the rest into savings for a rainy day. If needed, you can hide some money from yourself in different parts of your room or car for a nice little surprise every now and then.
Not only is it important to set aside money for yourself, but it is also important to set aside time to decompress and reset. Long weeks full of school, work, and any other activities can be difficult to adapt to with a new style and harder classes, but allotting yourself time each week to do homework as well as relax is necessary. An easy way to do this is to make a habit of studying or doing homework at a specific time. Whether this be right after class or a couple of hours later, find a time where you can be productive. Putting off homework in exchange for a fun time, just to come back to 10 assignments due in the next 4 hours is never a fun time. Particularly when you are paying thousands of dollars for each of these courses. Also make sure to have talks with roommates about personal space and times, and set aside times to be social to ensure you aren’t missing out on a good college experience.
Along with ensuring a good college experience, make sure to find activities and hobbies to enjoy your area. It can become uninteresting when you go to the same place over and over with no sort of variation. Look for a bowling alley, laser tag location, paint ball place, cute coffee shops, mom and pop diners, skating rinks, etc., to ensure you can have a fun night out when needed. Take yourself on single dates when necessary and treat yourself. You don’t have to be with friends to have fun. You can find a location for archery, axe throwing, crafts, and more. Also, pick up new hobbies, and look out for new clubs to join. College is full of clubs that are meant to be fun and get you involved; there is no downside to being active and finding activities in the area around you.
However, when using this advice, be sure to take into consideration that every person is different. Nobody is going to have a college experience identical to you, and that is alright. Maybe this article sparks ideas for activities you would like to try. But just remember that there are always people to support you in and out of college. And be sure to have a productive and fun experience.
