As we are wrapping up the school year for the entire school, we are also wrapping up the end of the seniors’ high school experiences. Every student went through different experiences and has a different path after graduation. Some are similar to each other, and come the complete opposite way. The friendships you have gained and lost will not define your entire life. There is so much ahead for everyone. I, as a senior myself, wanted to hear about the paths some of my peers were taking. I reached out to multiple people, all taking different paths, just to show how many of them are out there. I hope you enjoy.
Anthony Fitzsimmons is a graduating senior at Belleville High School. He is 18 and attended BHS all four years. Anthony will be attending Western Michigan University this fall to major in finance. He plans to attend Western for all four years. Anthony is the first kid in his family to attend a university. During his time at Western, he will be working to save money while also taking classes. Anthony earned the Bronco Success Scholarship, which will go towards his tuition at Western Michigan University. After talking with him, he expressed that he is definitely feeling nervous about the upcoming fall. To handle those nerves, he is talking with his family. Luckily, Anthony already knows to his roommate will be, so they can also talk about the upcoming year. I wanted to know why he picked Western and why it was the perfect fit for him. He explained how the distance is perfect for him. He will get to grow as his own person, but is still close enough to his family that he can come home whenever he chooses. Anthony also decided that their finance program is a really good fit. Each program is different, so finding the one that works for you is a good idea. Anthony also knows a couple of people attending Western Michigan in the fall, so he will have people to explore and connect with. Congratulations, Anthony, good luck in the fall!
Paige Mickle is a graduating senior at Belleville High School. She is 18 years old and has attended BHS all four years. Paige will be attending Washtenaw Community College with plans to transfer to Eastern Michigan University after one year. She is so excited for her future to begin. Paige has been working and will continue to work to pay her way through college herself. These attributes of hard work and dedication really stand out. After college, Paige wants to work with little children and help them in schools. She does not have any connections at Washtenaw, so this will be a brand-new experience. Paige is the first person in her family to attend college as well. As a few last words, Paige wanted to shout out Mrs. Boulas. “Thank you for being so supportive and easy for me to talk to.” Congratulations, Pagie, good luck in the fall!
Jalen Vickerson is a graduating senior at Belleville High School. He will not be taking the college route, but going another way. After graduating from high school, Jalen will pursue a trade school program. His main focus is on carpentry. He has known what he’s wanted to do since he was 12 years old. His uncle introduced him to the trade world at age 11, and he has been hooked ever since. Ja’Len’s uncle is his inspiration for his future career. He was taught about floors, the different types of floor boards, nails, machines, etc. I asked Ja’Len why he decided to take the trade route instead of college. He has some insight into why it’s a better path for him. Jalen can get straight into work after graduation, and working in a trade is very hands-on. That is what he is passionate about. He also explained all the different types of experiences and routes you can take within different trade programs. Jalen wanted to send a shout-out to Mr. Davenport. He wants to thank him for being able to work for his family’s company this summer. Congratulations, Jalen, good luck!
Callie King is a graduating senior at Belleville High School. She is 17 and has attended BHS all four years. Callie will be attending Saginaw Valley State University in the fall. Callie has chosen to major in criminal justice. Not only that, she will be a member of Saginaw Valley State’s Dance program. Callie plans to attend Saginaw Valley State for all four years. She doesn’t have any connections to the school, so it will be brand new for her as well. I wanted to ask a student planning to play a sport in college about why they thought that was the best route for them. Callie explained that it will keep her on a good schedule while being away from home, and she will also be mastering her time management skills. A good thing about joining clubs and extracurriculars is that you get introduced to so many people with the same interests. This makes it easier to make new friends. Callie is feeling so excited for this fall, and is extremely happy she will get to continue her dance career. Congratulations, Callie, and good luck in the fall semester!
Tanner Davenport is a graduating senior from Belleville High School. He is 18 and will be attending Washtenaw Community College this fall. His major is currently undecided, so that he can be certain he knows what he wants to do. Tanner plans to attend Washtenaw for two years. He currently has no connections to Washtenaw Community College, so this allows him the opportunity to branch out and make new friends. Tanner explained he might think about transferring after a year or two, but is not fully certain yet. I wanted to know how he was feeling about graduation. Tanner said he is excited to experience the future and for what’s to come. Tanner wanted to give a shout-out to Mrs. Williams. She is his favorite teacher and has helped him so much. Congratulations in the fall, Tanner!
This shows you just how many different paths there are after graduation. Whether you have known what you wanted to do since freshman year, or are still confused now. Don’t worry. You will be okay. Life has a way of working out unexpectedly. Change your mind, and change it again. Nothing in life is permanent, and the most important advice I can give is, do what you love. Congratulations, seniors, and good luck. Addy Tulik signing out.
