Closer to independence

Its always interesting, growing up. Its something people want to do so badly, until the point when its right around the metaphorical corner. From zero to highschool, people want to grow up and get into the world. But yet when its actually getting closer, like junior year of highschool second thoughts appear. Suddenly growing up is something to fear. Because students are supposed to have it all planned out, and right after sophomore year we still don't know what to do in only a couple years. So fear develops.

And it is all because humans in general don't like what we don't understand. And students cannot be expected to understand what is going to happen after graduation. Sure most go to college, some get jobs, but that information fails to explain what it will be like. And that unknowing is what causes fear.

How can students have it all figured out?
And how do schools think it is fair to expect them to have it figured out.
At one school I went to we were supposed to be figuring it out starting in 8th grade. By sophomore year we were expected to have a job picked out, and a list of schools. If someone did not have that much figured out they were considered to, basically, be an indecisive idiot. The school could not actually say that, but it was implied. They want to keep the image of having students that had a clue what they were doing, and what they were going to do.

And until about halfway through highschool people want to grow up. But then fear, probably due to expectations from the school, takes over. And suddenly growing up doesnt seem like much fun anymore.