By Michelle Dufek | Staff writer
When starting high school, the last thing freshmen seem to be worried about is their future after high school.
“Freshman year is about exploring what you’re interested in,” said Joel Sinden, an Indian Trail counselor.
Sinden advises freshmen to take classes that “hold interest” to help them figure out what they might want to do after high school. Seniors agree that taking fun and interesting classes as freshmen help students decide what their plans might be later in life.
“I wish I didn’t fail half of my classes freshman year,” says Malik Wynn, a Communications senior.
Catching up can be hard once a student gets higher up into high school. Students seem to be unable to grasp that there will be nowhere for them to go after high school if they don’t work for something.
“No one has reserved a spot for students after high school,” says Sinden.
As a senior, many students have problems with lack of urgency to get things done on time.
“I’m still a grown child and I don’t want to grow up,” says Wynn.
Wynn says he is not prepared for after high school and does not want to think about what might come if he doesn’t start preparing.
Zak Klemmer, a General Studies senior, agrees when asked if he is prepared for after high school.
“I’m not prepared at all,” says Klemmer. “I wish I took more math classes in high school to help prepare me for college.”
In contrast, some freshmen seem to be on the right track.
“I plan to go to college and be a policeman or be on the SWAT team,” Daviyon Nixon, a Communications freshman, said.
Nixon also plans to do his best in high school and focus on things that are most important to him.
Another freshman, Jason Marker, also states that he is going to college.
“I want to go to college and become a car designer. The Communications Academy will help a lot with that,” says Marker.
Some good advice for freshmen this year would be to ask as many questions as possible. Make sure to meet with a counselor between freshman and sophomore year to discuss plans for after high school. The sooner these steps are taken, the better off the future will look for these students.