As a senior in high school, one of the main stressors is figuring out what life after high school looks like for me. Does it mean going to college? If so, what will college life look like? Would I be living on campus or with my parents? What would I be doing while in college? If college isn’t a priority, then what’s next? Getting a job? Taking a gap year? Volunteering? The questions go on and on. From what I’ve gathered, I’d like to take a few years off from school and focus on financially establishing myself, though like everything I think I know about myself, this plan could always change. So, to get an idea of what students are looking at when it comes to college, I decided to interview two members of the senior class who I know and learn what they plan on doing after high school.

Senior Xiomeilis Walton-Garcia and senior Ozias Dixon were interviewed on their perspectives and plans for college. These were the questions they were asked:

1. How do you feel about college in general?
2. Do you plan on going to college? Why or why not?
3. What do you plan on studying?
4. Do you plan on going for a Bachelor’s? Masters?
5. What are you looking forward to?
6. What are your plans for college?
7. Do you plan on using internships, etc. to help pay for college?

Their responses have been edited and/or paraphrased for clarity and brevity.

Xio:

1. [I believe that] college is a great way to network along with being a vital part of most job processes.
2. I do plan on going to college because the path what I want to take cannot be done without a college.
3. I plan on studying material engineering.
4. I do plan on getting at least a bachelor’s, maybe a master’s if there are available opportunities for that.
5. I am looking forward to becoming my own person without the guidance of my parents. Seeing the me that is independent is something that I am excited for.
6. My plans for college are to take as many of the required classes early on, so that I can have space for hobby classes.
7. I do plan on doing internships. Even if I do not get paid for it, an internship an important part of job experience and can give me and others a leg up when applying for jobs.

Ozias:

1. [College seems] stressful. [It’s like you have to] pay for everything [you’re surrounded by]. You’re hungry; you have to pay. You need help; you have to pay.
2. (and 3) “I plan on [going to college and] studying Child Psychology and Adult Psychology to help children [so they don’t have to go through what I did].
3. (See above)
4. I want to go for the highest degree in Psychology.
5. I’m looking forward to the learning and the clubs.
6. For my undergrad year, [I plan on focusing] on college. Then, from there, doing internships.

After the student interviews, I began wondering what college was like for the teachers and how their college experiences shaped them into the teachers they are today. So, I decided to interview theology teacher Dr. T. McLaughlin and history teacher Mr. Baltzer on their college experiences. These were the questions:

1. Where and when did you graduate from college?
2. Did you get your Bachelor’s? Masters?
3. What was the most impactful experience you had at college?
4. What advice would you give your younger self about college (if any) based on what you know about college?
5. What advice would you give to students about college?

Their responses have been edited and/or paraphrased for clarity and brevity

Dr. T. McLaughlin:

1. I graduated from Georgetown in 2010.
2. I got my Doctorate at the University of Michigan in 2017.
3. The most impactful experience I had at Georgetown was just the ability to learn on my own as an adult.
4. I think I did it right [when it comes to college]. I wouldn’t change what I did because I majored in what I loved, I majored in History, and I still would have majored in History if I were starting college today.
5. I think I would give probably different advice to students because back then the situation with student loans was very different and so, if I were going to college today, I would have chosen the place [where] I got more scholarships which was Pitt, but back then it was a different financial situation. I also think today, unlike 20 years ago, there’s more pressure for students to major in a career path and college is not supposed to be for career paths; there’s tech school for that. You can be a hairstylist or a plumber, those are career paths, and there are training schools and community colleges for those, but there’s also many careers in which a general degree in the Humanities prepares you well. So, if you want to be a lawyer, etc., there are so many careers that the career training for that comes after college. So, just major in your favorite subject and enjoy the process of learning.

Mr. Baltzer:

1. (and 2) I got my bachelor’s degree at Edinboro University in 2011. I went back to school in 2019 at Gannon University, and I completed my master’s degree in May of 2021 during the pandemic.
2. See above
3. The hardest class I took was U.S. Government. I had an interest in politics and an interest in U.S. Government, but the professor was hard. He told us the first day of class he expected us to study and to read the chapter, which was one chapter, 20, 30, 40 pages; 6-8 hours a week. We failed his first tests. And I mean I failed, like 40%, and I thought I knew the material. I took the class seriously; I was there for every class. He goes “Well, let me see your notes,” and he goes, “No, no, no.” And so, we had to painstakingly paraphrase everything. Once we figured out [how to properly take notes], everything [turned] around. I got like a B+ in the class, so he was really the person to push us into learning, to really take notes, and to really focus on the details.
4. (and 5) When I went [to Edinboro], the transition was hard, mostly learning how to study. Could I take classes? Yeah. Did I have the test skills? Yeah. Did I know how to study? Not really. And so, the first two years were difficult, but starting really my junior year is when things really turned around.
5. See above

“[So], learn how to study, challenge yourself, make sure you understand how to learn, and come up with [a study routine that works best for you],” Mr. Baltzer said. “Don’t blow through [college] because you might be smart or hold off, because you will hit a point where you’ll to re-evaluate and figure out what works best for you. [Also], find a school and campus that you like. If there’s a place, take a tour. If you have the ability, shadow a class. Stay overnight to see what the night life is like. See if you feel comfortable in that area. Take a risk and get active within the campus, don’t just take classes.”

After the teacher interviews, I noticed a pattern in the interview responses: Despite the benefits that college offers, it isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Considering the emphasis senior Ozias Dixon placed on the price tags that college seems to slap onto everything, and the advice theology teacher Dr. T. McLaughlin gave regarding college and career paths, I think it’s safe to say that anyone who’s debating going to college is looking to do more than just research into their career, but also themselves. Since college is the next step for many members of the senior class, I believe that a reminder to remain faithful to yourself and your own future, regardless of what others may think of your success, is what needs to be the main priority. The other important details such as cost and living can come later, because none of those can replace one’s personal truth.

So, to end the interview section of this article, Prep graduate Dominic Bellotti (‘24) was interviewed on his perspective on college prior to graduation and after graduation.

These were the questions he was asked:

1. What were your plans for life after high school prior to graduating?
2. If schedules and money were not issues, would you have attended college after high school?
3. What advice do you have for any students who feel unsure about or feel pressured to go to college?

His responses have been edited and/or paraphrased for clarity and brevity

1. During my senior year, I was applying to colleges to see my options for after high school. Towards the end of my senior year, I was planning on working full time, while trying to complete an online program for my college degree.
2. If money and schedule were not an issue with me attending college, I would. The biggest factors that led me to not pursuing a degree were financial and scheduling complications.
3. If you feel unsure or pressured about college, still explore your options. Knowing what is out there and available is a positive as you look at plans for after high school and college. College is not a requirement for success after high school, but for some it is a step to success. For others, it is not a necessary step.

With this all being said, it might still feel as if college is all one has to look to after high school, but the truth is that there are many ways to go about life after high school as well as college, you just have to be willing to look into yourself and make the right decision.