Senior year is a big deal for upcoming graduates with college resumes and even senior prom. But there comes a point where students have to think about their future and the different paths they are going to take.
Many students follow in the footsteps of others from this area by going to in-state colleges such as the University of Kentucky, Northern Kentucky University, and the University of Louisville. Staying local will provide a support group for students, but will also allow for them to experience how living alone will impact their college life.
“Staying semi-local will allow me to get the experience of living on my own while still having a close network of people who can help me when needed,” Evelyn Hopping (12) said.
While some students are set on staying local, some students are planning on traveling to different places around the U.S, and even out of the country to support their studies.
“I would like to be able to travel across the U.S, but also other places in the world, putting both creativity (photography) and business (advertisements) together,” Hayden Reed (12) said.
As they near the end of their high school years, students often decide whether or not they want to go to college or an apprenticeship. Some decide to go straight into the workforce. In our school, 20% of students plan on attending an apprenticeship while the other 80% plan on going to college.
Attending an apprenticeship can help with many things, such as getting scholarships for different classes being attended in college.
“It helps me to get more experience with handling other animals, so that in college I can get a scholarship for my classes,” Mollie Spears (12) said.
Most students go straight into their futures wherever that may be, but others decide to take what most call “gap years” in between. Gap years can offer time to prepare for your college career, but it also allows students to get the freedom once they go away to college.
“It feels important, even though I’m taking a gap year to get my service dog, I want the freedom and opportunities that you can have by going away to college,” Lianne Guttadauro (12) said.
The seniors at Highlands are excited to kick off their well-thought-out plans in just a couple of months, where they will go off to college and have many opportunities for career experience.
“There are a lot of tricks to learn from professors in the industry, and having experience. It is also a great environment to learn by messing up rather than messing up in the real world with real clients,” Noah Huber (12) said.
