As the school year comes to an end, seniors and juniors start to think more about what they want to do after high school. Some students plan to go to college while others want to join the military, some want to learn a trade, take a gap year, or go right into the work field.
For seniors, these decisions are happening now as graduation gets closer. Many have already made their plans, while juniors are just beginning to explore their options.
Junior Cordé Bruce said he plans to go to college for four years to study IT at ASU; then after his studies there, he plans to get into an NFL IT group; and if this does not work out, he plans on falling back on a nursing field because that’s what his mom does for work.
“I have family that is in this field.”
Students choose their path based on their future interests and cost. College can be expensive, so some students choose jobs or trade programs to start earning money sooner.
Teachers like science teacher Bethany Kent said she sees a lot of the pathways we have at Oak Park help students see if they would even like the field they thought they would, but many change their minds from what they picked in eighth grade which is okay.
Freshman Jacoby Brown said he is still young, so he is still going to try and chase his dream of the NFL, but he plans on going to any college that gives him a chance to shine but prefers a D1 or D2.
Even if their plans are different, many students share the same feelings. Some feel excited to start something new, while others feel nervous about the future.
“Nervous because not close to home and have to meet new people,” said junior Jakob Eads.
Juniors are also starting to feel pressure as they think about their own future. Watching seniors make decisions helps them understand what to expect.
Eads plans on going right into college right after high school at Northwestern he plans on studying in physical therapy or veterinary medicine. He said he picked one of these fields because they have always been one of his dreams since he been a little kid.
