As the year comes to an end students begin to scramble to figure out the “What’s next?”: Specifically, Seniors.
Each Senior has created their own dream and image of their future life.
Whether their next step is college, trade school or military, they have designed a plan for their future.
“I’m either doing construction or UVI for Agriculture,” Austen Howell said.
“I want to be a Physical Therapist, and I’m going to Carroll to pursue that degree,” Carter Vanek said.
“After high school, I am moving to Spokane Community College to study Diagnostic Medical Sonography (Ultrasound Technician),” Aspen Wike said.
Many have even opted for a more creative career like cosmetology, film, art, and dance.
“I want to be a dancer, more specifically, I want to be a choreographer or go on Broadway,” Gracie Taylor said.
They have all prepared in their own way for the past four years from Freshman year to Senior year.
By taking each step one at a time in order to make it to the end goal.
Every student’s preparation is different from the last, but every Senior works just as hard as the last in order to get where they want to be tomorrow.
“I’ve been working pretty hard to keep my grades up throughout all four years,” Susannah Smith said, “And not taking anything too difficult, so that I don’t get burnt out.”
“I’m going to the Cadet Academy for Northern Lake Fire Department,” Chase Petersen said,“ And I’m going to NIC for EMT classes and Firefighter 1.”
As students come closer to their Senior year, many of them begin to take school more seriously.
They realize that the end of high school was closer than they had originally expected.
Although short, the four years of high school is the best time to prepare for the future.
“As I got older, I got better grades, better study habits, and prioritized things that should be prioritized,” Carter Vanek said.
“I wish I had participated in things that I didn’t because I was worried about what other people thought,” Aspen Wike said.
These lessons learned will follow the seniors throughout their lives.
With help from counselors many difficult parts of finding the right college have become much easier.
“Mrs. Ryan helped me to arrange my schedule so I can get the classes I need for college,” Adam Landin said.
Counselors have not only helped Seniors to find their perfect college, but have also offered the Seniors and their families many opportunities to come in and receive help with applications for scholarships.
Schools also offer students many opportunities to gain more credits either through college courses, zero hour courses, or summer courses.
Some students may not have been able to choose a field of study right away however, through the help of the school they were able to grow many of their interests over the past four years.
Lakeland High School offers many entertaining and motivating electives such as welding, photography, art, stagecraft, journalism, teen living, choir, band, weights, and so much more.
“I’m gonna go to college for audio engineering and hopefully I can record lots of artists,” Harmony Williams said,“I’ve taken a lot of classes like photography and media arts. I’m in Hello Hawks, so that will help a lot in the Entertainment Industry.”
Whether or not students will actually choose to pursue a career in those fields, it has allowed them to enjoy high school in a more enjoyable fashion.
Also, it helped give them well-rounded exposure and help develop their talents and skills.
Many go on to join after school programs or even state and city programs, in order to broaden their horizons and increase their understanding.
“I’ve been starting professional auditions with CDA Summer Theatre, Spokane Valley Summer Theatre, and Aspire Community Theatre,” Ciara Mckenzie.
The anticipation from each semester is continuing to grow as college applications are sent away.
And although waking up each morning may have been difficult, hopefully each step was worth it in the end.
These Seniors, along with the Seniors before them, have paved a way for next year’s Seniors and every other Senior to come.
