The school year is nearing an end, and things are starting to pick up for seniors at Wheeling Park High School. However, this begs the question — What’s next? For many seniors that may be college, trade school, or even a gap year. A fresh start is brewing and it is the choices that they make today that will set them up for their future. Although, it may look different for each individual, the next chapter of their lives is in view, and it’s time to take the next step. Many students are committing to universities, enrolling in apprenticeship programs, and planning out where life will take them next. Some students aren’t so certain just yet, but they will have the rest of their lives to figure it out. The societal pressure to pick a career and stick to it is profound. As young people, they are constantly growing and changing, and so may their aspirations. With so much change in the air, it is incredible to see all the different paths Park students are choosing to travel down.
Wheeling Park High school’s graduation councilor Mrs. Julie Schultz shares her view on the tedious tasks you have to take to get to your destination.
“Just to get started seems overwhelming at first, because not only are you asked to know your basic information but they’re asking about your SAT scores and your ACT scores. FAFSA is sometimes a daunting task for people to fill out…what I tell people is you just need to think of it in bite size pieces” said Mrs. Schultz.
Mrs. Julie Schultz shows us that sometimes the hardest part of any journey is simply getting started. Even if you are uncertain of where you will end up it is important to start taking steps toward your future, even if you don’t know where you will end up.
It is okay not to know where you want your life to lead you. Seniors are given endless opportunities and choices for their future, and it can be incredibly overwhelming to make such a heavy choice.
Seniors: Ivan Zhang, J.D. Williams, Ariel Palmer, and Jerome Maynard, share their thoughts on the matter.
“So WVU (West Virginia University) is my number one choice right now, like UWASH (University of Washington that’s all the way in Seattle but that’s really far away, so we’ll see,” said Zhang.
Although Ivan is certain he is going to a four year institution, the decision of which one still weighs heavy on his heart. Committing to a university is a task full of research and emotional pull, that can take a long time to decide the right fit for you.
“Not knowing what I want to do, and feeling pressure to figure out what I want to do. During high school playing sports, and balancing everything in my life and still trying to find out what I want to do is really hard,” said Williams.
J.D. may be undecided, but just by thinking of his future while pursuing his interests in high school, he is taking steps toward this next chapter in his life. As of right now J.D. does plan on attending a college or university, however, he has not made any final plans just yet.
“I have been talking to a couple of different tradesmen just to see if i can learn something just in case I do not end up liking college I have something I know how to do and can work with my hands a little bit. I do plan on going to college… hopefully majoring in some sort of law or criminal justice,” said Maynard.
A gap year is another choice students have to decide from, and student Jerome Maynard is seizing that opportunity. He plans to use his gap year wisely, taking a break from institutional learning to plan out his future whether that be a trade or something in law enforcement.
“I knew I wanted to major in nursing, and then I did research in colleges and nursing programs and looking for scholarships that would benefit me… I decided Duquesne was the best option, and I committed,” said Palmer.
Ariel knew from the very beginning what major she planned on perusing, and right away took steps toward the next couple of years of her life. She is fully committed to Duquesne University and cannot wait to start college in the fall.
Every walk through life is different, no matter if you are committed to a university, taking a gap year, or undecided. Senior year can be scary — so many opportunities and choices waiting for you. However, it is important to take change in stride and enjoy the journey that will lead to the next chapter. Every major, every university, every trade, can fit differently for each individual, and figuring out that puzzle is what makes completing high school so worth while. Make choices, start walking down your own path, because the rest of your life is waiting for you.
