Growing up is something that as a child, everyone was excited for. Graduating high school, moving out, getting your dream job, and most importantly, college. But as we get closer to adulthood, we find that all the things we envied as children are simply not so glamorous.
“What do you want to be when you grow up” was a question that every six-year-old loved to answer.
“A police officer”
“A teacher”
“An astronaut”
While these answers were sufficient for a 6-year-old to give, the answers started to change as we got older. Instead of an astronaut, it may have changed to an engineer, or it may have gone from a teacher to a biologist, but the fact is that these changes shape us as people and, more importantly, what we want to become.
Morgan Graski is a senior here at Wheeling Park High School, she shared with me how becoming a teacher was always on her mind, but it wasn’t the only option she wanted to pursue.
“I’ve always liked to teach, but it’s not always been my main choice,” said Graski. As time goes on we learn more about ourselves and what we find joy in doing.
Most times, the execution of achieving what you want to do in life, more than a high school diploma is needed, which leads us to another not-so-glamorous decision in life. The question that stands is where to attend college or university. And sometimes, to land those jobs that you have either wanted to do your whole life, just figured out, or have been planning to do throughout high school, you need more experience. Whether this be higher education, an internship, or training, what you want may not come easily.
To dig further into the college and university standpoint of achieving what you want in life, we stand questioning what the next step is. Oftentimes, it’s opening up the computer and googling good colleges for journalism or culinary schools near me. And to be honest, that is a great place to start.
However, the decision of where to seek higher education is not an easy decision for some. I take research, tours, talking to alumni, and most importantly, time. Many other things factor into the research aspect of picking out a college or university that is right for you. Academics, programs, extracurriculars, location, etc.
McKenzie Kiziminski is a Wheeling Park High School alumni, who now is attending West Virginia University. She explained some of the things that factored into helping pick out the university that was trite for her.
“I really liked that they had a wide variety of majors and minors to choose from, so I wouldn’t feel like I was stuck in something I didn’t love. I loved that it was close enough to home to feel comfortable but also far enough to be my own person,” said Kiziminski.
Gabby Broski is a John Marshall High School alumni and has finished her Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science with a minor in Chemistry from Fairmont State University. She talked to me about how the location was a major playing factor in her decision to go to Fairmont State.
“I went to college there because it was small enough where I would be seen and valued as a student but also given opportunities that larger institutions were able to give with research and other resources,” said Broski.
Another thing that helps in choosing what higher education you want to pursue is campus touring. Most schools offer campus tours so that students can get a better grasp of the school. Sometimes this can be a major selling factor, but other times it can be what students decide against.
Aside from the programs, one of the biggest things that can assist students in choosing their route for this higher education is the extracurriculars. Some students go to different schools for sports, whether they have been committed, or end up joining the team when they arrive, extracurriculars are a key component in schools.
“Making the dance team was huge in making friends, and being involved in something bigger,” said Kiziminski.
Brody Wall is currently attending West Liberty University and shared that one of the reasons that he decided to go to West Liberty was to continue playing soccer.
“I chose West Liberty because I wanted to continue playing soccer and West Liberty was the best option for me to be able to balance soccer and my studies,” said Wall.
It doesn’t matter what school you choose, what matters is that you are on the road to the career you want to pursue. So, you finally sit reading this article and ask yourself the burning question:
What do you want to be when you grow up?