by: Theresa Schuetz

College board outside of the main office. Photo by: Theresa Schuetz

The paths people take after high school vary, and it’s not easy to choose which one to go down. Students can choose to further their education, go into the workforce or even take a gap year to enjoy time out of school.

The most popular path people tend to choose is university or college. Furthering education is what students tend to do most often because it is said to be the most reliable way to get a job.

Each college has many different options to include people with different interests and goals. There are many different professions people are passionate about and can choose to pursue.

“I chose to go to school for criminal justice because I have always been fond of crime scene investigating and doing things hands-on,” senior Kaidence Thompson said.

Not everyone wants to jump into college life; others want to spend time out of school to follow their passions. Senior Owen Tutich will be playing hockey somewhere during his gap year.

“I plan on attending a four-year college after my gap year and continuing to play hockey while studying business,” Tutich said.

Student-athletes often take their passions and try to turn them into pursuable futures. According to NFHS.org, only two percent of student-athletes make it to college teams on a scholarship and fewer than two percent of college athletes go pro. Even with these odds, many athletes don’t let it stop them and continue chasing their dreams.

Role models heavily impact what people dream of doing in the world and even change what people choose to do post-high school.

“My biggest inspiration growing up was my grandfather who served in WWII; he’s what got me into the idea of it from a very young age,” senior Alex Toth said.

Joining the military is another popular choice when it comes to post-secondary. According to defense.gov, 87% of the military is made up of 18-year-olds. There are many reasons young adults choose to pursue the military, it could be to fund college, honor a family member or serve their country.

“Initially I wanted to experience what my grandfather had in WWII, then as I was growing up the more I saw and heard, I knew I just wanted to help people,” Toth said.

There are no set paths that students are required to go down post-high school, opportunities grow with each thing that is done.

“Follow your passion, be willing to work for it and not every dream starts at the top,” principal Mr. David Zilli said. “Sometimes you have to enter at the bottom and work your way up.”