Oh the Places You’ll Go!
Elliott posing while welding
February 5, 2023
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.” This quote from Dr. Suess’s Oh the Places You’ll Go helps sum up the chapter of life that our seniors are beginning to experience. As our time in high school begins to come to a close, a topic that for so long was a question mark for many is starting to all come together. What are we going to do now?
Though it seems like just yesterday that we were scared little freshmen, it appears now that we’re closer to being college freshmen than high school. It’s exciting to see which route each classmate will go, and where it will take them in life. People will decide between college, trades, the military, and even graduating early to join the workforce. Regardless of the route they pick, everyone knows that they will bring great assets to it.
For those who decide to go the college route, it’s not always easy to decide where to go. There are factors such as location, financial aid, how their program compares to others, and so much more. This has been a relatable problem for Kaden McCormack. Kaden’s plans are to get his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. As he is top of the senior class, his options are endless but he’s just not quite sure where he’d like to land when he flies from the nest. He says, “Yeah, I don’t know where I’m going, but I’ll go somewhere.” We know that he’ll succeed regardless.
While there are some students like Kaden who plan to go the college route, there are equally as many students who plan to pursue a trade. While they aren’t as advertised, trade jobs are needed more and more each day. Some students are even able to start learning their trade early, which benefits them later on. Elliott Meadows was able to start taking welding classes as a junior in high school. This gave him a great jump start, and by this time now he is actually eligible to walk in LTC’s graduation this May with his welding certification. Elliott plans to go to Vincennes University to continue his certification in Welding Technology, and he will be a perfect fit.
One field that is always seeking more to join is the military. PHS has had several students in the past 4 years enlist, and the most recent is Jaylee Hyre. Jaylee made the decision to enlist in the Illinois Army National Guard in November. She will ship out for basic training in July and upon returning in December plans to use her G.I. Bill bonus. By using her bonus, Jaylee plans to attend a four-year college to get her business degree, and then plans to get her real estate license. The military is already opening up many opportunities for her, and we couldn’t be happier.
A senior who is well deserving of recognition is Michlynn Churchwell. By taking numerous online courses, Michlynn was able to graduate a semester early so that she could join the workforce. It’s running in her family as her cousin, Owen Pittenger, did the same his senior year. Talking with Michlynn in class she said, “It was really difficult,” but we’re so proud of her for doing it.
As we get closer to the end of our high school careers, we are able to look to the future with excitement as we decide what to do with our lives. Though our freshman year was cut short, and there were some odd sports seasons following, there is no doubt that we haven’t still had fun in high school. After countless hours of homework, studying for Mr. Smith’s biology tests, and so many scholarship applications from Mrs. Will, we’re finally nearing the finish line.
A quote whose author is unknown goes, “Graduating is an exciting time. It marks both an ending and a beginning; it’s warm memories of the past and big dreams for the future.” There is no doubt that the class of 2023 is destined to do great things, and we’re excited to watch these plans unfold.
