If the high school Class of 2009 is the voice of its generation, then expect to hear more musings than shouts.

Interviews with a cross section of students from the South Hills offered a window into the world of 18- and 19-year-olds grasping the excitement of new schools or career opportunities but also enduring stress and concern, especially over the current economy.

Just the idea of living away from home can be daunting.

And that's only a start.

For McKeesport Area High's Rachel Popovich, beginning a new life at Penn State University includes a ready-made safety net.

"I'm actually enrolled in a program that helps people like me who don't know what they want to do yet," she said, adding that the program involves living in what is called "Discover House."

"There is a specialized floor for us, so we can figure it out together," she said with a laugh.

Perhaps she'll run into Sarah Thomas, a recent graduate of Serra Catholic High School, who also will attend Penn State. Sarah's torn between majoring in marketing or journalism, but she knew where she wanted to go to college.

"My older sister's friend goes to Penn State, and our basketball team went to [the PIAA playoffs] and we saw a game up there. I fell in love with the area," she said.

Although she was an athlete in high school, she doubts that she'll be able to play volleyball for the Nittany Lions.

"I'm considering club volleyball. [Varsity] volleyball at Penn State is for people, like, 7 feet tall," she said.

West Mifflin Area senior Taylor Fulton will graduate today. By tomorrow, she hopes to decide among several scholarship offers from colleges coveting her basketball skills.

The idea of leaving her home in Duquesne and living among strangers on a college campus is, she said, both exciting and scary.

"I'm definitely a little of both … well, a lot of both," she said. "It'll be different."

Some members of the Class of 2009 have very clear notions of what they want to do in life.

Munhall's Jared Ducar, who finished first in his class at Steel Center Area Vocational Technical School, will study electrical engineering at the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown.

Taylor and South Park's Lisa Barkand want to become doctors, while Upper St. Clair's Bria Larkin will pursue civil engineering.

Canon-McMillan's Brad Strimel, who will play football at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, will study electrical engineering and computer science.

Some, such as Thomas Jefferson High School's Hudson Stoner who will attend Allegheny College, are leaving their options open.

Catherine Skolnicki, of Keystone Oaks, hopes to study French and anthropology at Georgetown University but isn't certain how she'll use her education.

South Allegheny High School's Pete Miller III has his eye on an unusual career -- racing cars.

"My goal is to drive on the World of Outlaws. I'd love to race on that full time as a career," he said.

With his father, Pete Jr., Pete owns a go-kart track in Blairsville, Indiana County, where he works several nights each week.

He has raced go-karts and sprint cars and said he began to drive years ago because "I was too small to play football and I wasn't very good at baseball."

Sprint cars are high-powered vehicles with large, open wheels that tear up dirt tracks at speeds approaching 140 mph. Sponsored by American Recovery Corp., his father's repossession company, Pete has been racing a 2009 Maxium 8740, a raised-rail car powered by an 850- to 900-horsepower engine.

This is his second year on the circuit, where racing might mean traveling halfway across the country. Most of the other drivers are 25 to 35 years old. Pete is 18.

"My dad always wanted me to go to college, but he finally gave up," Pete said. "He said, 'Let's see what we can do.' "

Forty years ago, the Class of 1969 was out to save the world.

Today, many high school graduates would simply like to save some money first.

The shaky economy was the most consistent concern cited by more than a dozen members of the Class of 2009 interviewed by the Post-Gazette.

Catherine Skolnicki was delighted when federal student aid made it possible for her to attend Georgetown University for the same amount of tuition as her second choice, the honors college at the University of Pittsburgh.

"My parents told me, 'Don't let price affect where you apply,' but you still think about it," she said.

"The economy is definitely the biggest challenge for everyone," Lisa said, "Tuition rates just keep going up and, luckily, I can commute [to Pitt]."

Lisa has scholarships to cover much of her expenses, but housing isn't included. She said she'll drive into Oakland and become a regular at "this great little library" at the School of Engineering.

Bria will live at Carnegie Mellon. Her college choices came down to different coasts: Carnegie Mellon or the University of California at Berkeley.

While living on campus will be a new experience for her, it won't involve the cost of airfare.

The commute to college will be only 10 minutes for Catherine Maksin, valedictorian for Clairton's Class of 2009. She'll attend Community College of Allegheny South to major in nursing.

She said the downturn in the economy was a big discussion topic in school and on the streets. Throughout high school, she worked at a sporting goods store at Century III Mall and will continue to work there.

By the time the average high school senior gets to the month of June, he or she has jumped through a million figurative hoops: job applications, trade or military options and, perhaps the most involved, college applications. One New England college required students to expound on the following for an essay: "If you had a block of granite, what would you sculpt?"

The Post-Gazette asked the Class of 2009 to describe the best and worst traits of its generation.

"The best thing? Probably that everyone is a friend to each other. It's been really enjoyable," Brad said.

These seniors were in fifth grade when the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, occurred. For the most part, they said, they were too young to comprehend the worldwide effect.

They saw fire and mayhem and heroic efforts on television, but what did it mean?

"It happened at a time when we were so young, we didn't really understand," Catherine Skolnicki said.

"That was the first real evil" in her life, Sarah said. "When I was little, I used to watch these Disney princess movies with the evil villain, but I didn't really understand."

"We were really young, but it opened our eyes," Bria said. "It made me realize I don't just live in my Upper St. Clair bubble or my Pittsburgh bubble because there is a lot more out there in the world."

"It was scary at the time, but the United States of America, we always move on, we grow and get stronger," Brad said.

These soon-to-be graduates possess many commendable traits, but every generation has its faults.

"I think this generation has no work ethic whatsoever," Pete said. "I've been going to work since I was old enough to work."

"I wish everybody wasn't so politically correct," Brad said. "I wish everyone had a little more pride in their country and their school. There isn't too much of that anymore."

"I wish we could think about our actions before we act, to realize things are going to affect more people than just ourselves," Catherine Maksin said.

"Everyone today is materialistic," Jared said.

"There is a lot of judgment," Catherine Skolnicki said. "Constantly, people comparing each other, people judging each other. They need to focus more on their own goals."

The seniors, however, believe they have what it takes to face what the future will bring.

"With the environment and the economy, there are a lot of challenges, but we're up for it," Jared said.

"We definitely have a lot of ambition," Lisa said. "So many people in my school want to become doctors and lawyers."

"I feel people in my school are very down-to-earth and realistic about their goals … they'll get there," Catherine Skolnicki said.

Taylor said one of the reasons she wants to become an obstetrician is the emotional bond that exists between parent and child. "I think just being part of something like that is a great experience," she said.

One thing all of them agree on to some extent: With the huge advances in technology that occurred through their teen years, it's extremely easy to become distracted.

"We rely a little too much on technology, but that's the coming age," Bria said.

"At times, it could be distracting, but all that access to information might help us out," said Mt. Lebanon's Matt Ulrich. "You're randomly looking at something completely unrelated to something you'll never be exposed to otherwise, living around here."

Most teens know the difference between legitimate news sources on the Web and digital writings on a Facebook wall.

"I think if you look at the source, you're all right," Matt said. "If it's on a blog or on a [social networking] wall, you just don't always take it as fact."

"Obviously, there are some instances that are out there where no one in their right mind would believe them," Hudson said.

Sarah jokingly gave an example of how information might not match reality.

"I know, personally, that my room is a mess right now," she said. "Yet I told the Penn State housing people that I'm very neat."

Today's senior class might have it easier in terms of finances and opportunities than their parents did, but many said they feel stressed living in a faster-paced world that makes a competition out of everything from getting on the "right" Little League team to getting in the "right" college.

"It just feels like everything is a contest," said Mt. Lebanon's Alex Trivilino. "I know some people taking ridiculous amounts of [Advanced Placement] tests last year and this year.

"It just seems so extreme."

"I think the academics have gotten much more involved and difficult," Hudson said.

"I don't know if it's easier or harder for us, but I do think there are more programs around to let us know what our options are," Catherine Maksin said.

"I think the level of expectations were definitely lower back then, especially for women," Catherine Skolnicki said. "Women were not always encouraged to go to college."

Stress? As of two days ago, Lisa still had to write the speech she will deliver at South Park's commencement tomorrow, but she was busy with rehearsal for the ceremony and she had to get to the hairdresser for the prom.

Most, however, acknowledged that the hard work was over, at least for a month or two.

Many plan to work through their summer vacations. Lisa will be a camp counselor, Bria will bake cookies at a pie shop, and Jared will deliver pizzas and mow lawns.

For some, a new life will begin sooner than they had expected.

Brad must report to West Point this month, leaving the day after his sister's wedding.

No matter what their plans, the changes ahead bring a sense of anticipation for most.

"I think it's more exciting than scary," Sarah said. "I've been going to small Catholic schools my whole life, never more than 30 kids in a class. I'm excited to branch out, meet more people."

Catherine Maksin agreed.

"Clairton is a very small community. There's only about 55 of us graduating," she said. "I think actually getting out of that bubble, seeing there is more out there than the little area where we live, is a good thing."