As the class of 2023 begins to wrap up the year, college acceptances and commitments are quick to follow. 

You may have seen the class of 2023 Instagram page pop up on your feed, which posts photos to celebrate seniors’ college commitments. Currently sitting at 160 posts and 660+ followers, the account is, without a doubt, very popular. While the creation of these accounts may have been intended to celebrate the future of our classmates, it ultimately promotes a comparative culture within our school. 

Although you can choose whether to post your commitment on the account, there is lingering pressure to submit your decision. This is the result of the competition that is prevalent in the process of college admissions. While these accounts do not single-handedly create said culture, they still enhance a colossal issue regarding student expectations. The format of an Instagram feed makes it easy to compare yourself to other classmates, as the primary focus becomes the college’s prestige. 

This is the complete opposite of how we should celebrate these successes. Graduating high school and pursuing higher education is already an outstanding accomplishment for which students should be commended. Why should we let the toxic culture of Instagram take that away from the graduating class? 

Seniors already face waves of anxiety and pressure as they navigate the foreign and highly competitive college admissions process. In addition to this, many students feel a pestering desire to attend a renowned and well-known school. Consumption of the competitive college culture from outside our community can not be stopped—it is embedded into our society—but this account only adds to the mix. 

One way we can try to counteract this dynamic is by being more inclusive. Opening up the account from just college acceptances and adding posts that acknowledge other major accomplishments of the graduating class would make the account less saturated in this toxic competition. This format also better includes and represents students who may not be planning to attend college. 

As we take our final steps out of high school and into the real world, the best thing we can do for one another is to acknowledge all of the hard work that we have put into the last four years, and commemorate that as we continue on our journey.