What about university? Is there a university or college in your area that everyone is pretty much going to?
When I finished high school, I moved on to the U of A. Most of my high school friends went there, and we stuck together, so many of us were better friends because of university.
Some people have, over time, dropped off the face of the earth. Not literally, I hope. I heard the other day that one of the genius guys at my high school has finished med school and may already be in practice. It's kind of scary, really. Not that he's a doctor, but that I haven't come close to even figuring out what I want to do with my life.
At least I paid off my $23000 student loans in a year - exact to the day, in fact...many people I know are still in debt, and will be for very long.