As graduation keeps getting closer, many students are starting to imagine life after the classroom. For seniors like Charlotte Crane and Jake Blanks, the next chapter looks very different, but both of them face the same challenge. preparing for the future.

Crane will attend Northwest Missouri State University after graduation.

“Ever since I went to my first football game there, I knew I really wanted to go,” she said.

Being close to home was also an important factor in making the decision for her college. To prepare for it, Crane said she asked for advice from friends who have recently graduated, and watched videos about college life.

“The toughest part has been preparing mentally to leave the house I’ve lived in my whole life,” she said.

Blanks’ path is different. Being inspired by his own parents, who are college graduates, he first considered a future career in architecture but since then, has now chosen to take the path of mechanical engineering.

“My biggest concern about the future is that AI might take over my job,” he said. Still, he’s excited about the idea of starting a career and earning money for himself.

Trying to balance schoolwork, college classes, and scholarship applications can be overwhelming. The multitude of staff play a role in helping students navigate and determine these decisions. Counselor Jennifer Shafer noted many students choose Maple Woods Community College for programs such as A+ or because they would rather be able to stay close to home. She advises students to begin serious planning for college or beyond, as early as their junior year.

“It’s when you really start to make decisions,” she said.

To help students manage the many pressures of having to plan and decide, she recommends breaking goals into smaller steps and focusing on one task at a time.

Teachers also prep students with many skills that can extend beyond high school. English teacher Jana Rustvold said she emphasizes communication, critical thinking, and accountability in her classes.

“We all have to send emails to our bosses, pay taxes, and read applications,” she said. “These skills matter, no matter which path students choose.”