Member of the Youth Parliament advisory group, Lara Martin, has been thinking about her transition from college, next steps and the impact this big change has on young people.

As a little kid I always wanted to grow up fast. Clique I know, and my parents always warned me to not wish it all away but I think part of it was freedom and some of it was a desire for a voice. Now, at the ripe old age of 18 I can safely say I have what I wanted, to some extent at least. The bit that I failed to realise when I was young was the impact that growing up and specifically leaving school has on your life.

For most people at my age, they would be talking about university right now and the unique experience of living on your own away from your parents but with new friends. In some ways, I think university prolongs the feeling of growing up, and at the moment I’m feeling a sense of loneliness surrounding the topic.

I chose to stay at home and do a gap year, which is exciting to know that with some hard work at my part-time job I may be able to travel, but it’s also incredibly daunting as I begin to realise I don’t think university is well suited for me. With that realisation has also come the change in friendship groups, watching people move on with their lives in what my mum describes as: “The Great Scattering.”

This is the aftermath of a big change, usually going from college to work but I’ve also experienced it in smaller doses in other parts of my life. With this, I’ve been so focused on doing well for my final grades and enjoying my summer that now it’s finally hit me, my friends are all spread out. People who used to live 10 minutes from me are now a few hours drive away, studying at uni. Old friends from school are busy doing what I’m doing, living their own life and with less time in between study and work I don’t see my friends every day like I used to, and I wish I took more advantage of that comforting routine.

I’m still moving through this and I’m sure it’ll happen again, as everyone moves on from university, I’ve filled my time with the friends I do have and my job too. I feel like young people should have more support moving into the workforce, what do you think?

Lara

Did you know that Somerset Youth Parliament isn’t just it’s elected members? Any young person in Somerset aged 10-25 years can become a member of the Somerset Youth Parliament Advisory Group.

For more information about becoming a member of the Somerset Youth Parliament Advisory Group and to join, visit our Join Us page.