This semester is the seniors’ last semester of high school. When in high school, everyone is waiting for the moment for their senior year. Your senior year is your final year of high school and one thing that is really important for seniors is to get an idea about what you want your future plans to look like. You do not have to know everything, but it is helpful to look at career paths that interest you most. 

     Everyone has different interests and not everyone is interested in the same careers. During your senior year, everyone is looking for a college or future plan that is a perfect fit for them. High school is your way of preparing for your further education or pathway. A lot of our seniors this year have different paths they want to take for their future. Some still do not have a set plan and are unsure about their plan, and while that is okay, we do have some seniors with amazing career plans and pathways. 

     This year, we have a variety of career paths our seniors are going to take. For example, Maci Garland says, “My future plan is to become a pediatric nurse practitioner.’’ Maci has been looking at a variety of colleges like Indiana University, Ball State, IUPUI, and Indiana University- Kokomo. For Maci, she has decided she will be attending Ball State to become a nurse practitioner. Maci also says, “My aunt was a nurse practitioner, and I always knew I had an interest in healthcare.” She also looked into criminal justice, but she always knew nursing was her thing. That is why Maci chose this career path. Miss Garland chose something she has always been interested in. 

      Another career choice from one of our seniors is studying radiology. Dixie Wagoner and Madison Downhour plan on studying radiology. Dixie says, “I am planning to study to become an ultrasound technician, and possibly furthering my career into a mammographer.” Dixie has looked at a variety of colleges but has come down to two of her favorites. Dixie says, “I plan on attending college, and my top choices right now are The University of Southern Indiana and Indiana University South Bend.” Madison Downhour says “After high school, I plan to go into the radiology program at IUK to be an ultrasound technician.” The reason Madison wants this career is she has always been interested in the medical field and this career path is a two-year program.”

     After high school, Keira Wrightsman decided she wanted to go to Ball State. Keira says, “For my further education, I would like to study psychology at Ball State hoping to become a therapist.” Keira also says, “I want to have this career because I enjoy listening to people when they talk.” Keira sounds very excited to start a new chapter at Ball State after high school and pursue her career to become a therapist. 

     When Jamie Benefiel graduates from high school, she is interested in attending college and studying diesel technology. Jamie says, “My future plans are to attend the University of Northwestern Ohio to study diesel technology. I knew I wanted to study diesel technology because I have always enjoyed working with my dad ever since I was younger.”

     Another one of our seniors, Abigail Hileman, is interested in attending college. Abigail says, “I plan on going to Rose Hulman to study Engineering Design with a minor in music. I chose this career path because of my physics class with Mr. Miller last school year. I really enjoyed the process of combining math with real-world applications. After taking the class I felt like I had a better understanding of how the world around me worked and in college I hope to continue to study that as well as learn to use that knowledge to build products and structures to best fit the complicated world.” 

Kyra Welch, Alisyia Zamora, Kelcee Fowler, and Kennedy Thorpe are a few of our seniors interested in attending cosmetology school. Kyra says, “I am interested in pursuing cosmetology for my future career. I do not plan on attending college, instead I chose to go to cosmetology school to pursue my career. Ever since I was a little girl I have always loved hair and makeup, I have always been able to express myself through hair and makeup. I want to become a cosmetologist to help people feel beautiful in their own skin and explore who they are as a person. I am going to Tricoci University of Beauty Culture.” Alisyia Zamora says, “My future career plan is to become a hairstylist. I am planning on attending Summit Salon Academy, and the reason why I am interested in this career path is because I have enjoyed doing hair all my life and I would like to make it my career.” Kelcee Fowler says, “My future career plans are to get my license to become a cosmetologist. I am planning on attending a beauty school. I was first interested in beauty school when my hairdresser was telling me how she loves to do hair and makeup for weddings and I thought that would be something I enjoy. I’ve been looking into Summit Salon Academy in Kokomo.” Kennedy Thorpe says, “I plan on going to Summit Salon Academy and completing the Advanced Cosmetology Program, and my future goal is to work in a salon. I am not planning on attending college, but I will be attending beauty school. I became interested in this career path in my sophomore year of high school when I realized I wasn’t interested in going to college. I have always loved doing hair and I am excited to start my career. 

I am definitely going to Summit to continue my education.”

Although these are just a few people who know exactly what they want to do, we also have seniors who do not know exactly what they want to do. For example, Faith Abbot says, “I am still undecided on my college and exact career, but I have narrowed it down to two of each. I plan to go to either Ball State or Manchester University. I intend to pursue an educational studies degree in psychology with a music minor. I intend to then become a music therapist for early childhood and adolescence, or become an early childhood or elementary music teacher. I became interested in this career path after completing a community service project my sophomore year where I volunteered at the Lewis Cass Early Learning Academy. I’ve always been interested in psychology, and I’ve always loved music, but I didn’t learn how much I enjoyed teaching young children until then. During my visit to Manchester, I had an appointment with one of their success advisors. She helped me combine my interest, joy, and passion into one degree and job.”

All of these future plans are of great interest to these seniors. It is okay to not know what career path you are on, but it is helpful to have an idea of what you might be interested in. After high school is a completely different world and life experience all around. Maybe one of these career choices and the meaning behind each one helped you get an idea of what you might be interested in doing. Here’s to the future and beyond!