Armuchee high school juniors and seniors hold several different futures for themselves. Some do not plan on going to college, some do, and some really don’t even know.
Shari Torrez, a senior at AHS and our homecoming queen, wants to go directly into a four year college after highschool. She says, “ I don’t really know what college, but I know I want to go through an Air Force ROTC program.” The Air Force Academy, which is a college in Colorado, is one place of interest for Shari. She explained, “ It’s basically an all in one package, but it is hard to get submitted for.” Considering how difficult it is to be submitted for, she would be ecstatic if she could attend the academy. Becoming a part of the U.S. Air Force is not her passion, policy making and debating is, but she knows it would grant her great opportunities. She said, “My intentions with the Air Force is to set me up for success when I get out, so I’ll have benefits and healthcare won’t cost as much.” Shari has witnessed how the military can provide through her parents, who were also in the Air Force, and now her older brother who is in the Army.
Kyle Endfinger, an AHS junior, plans to attend Kennesaw State University to get a bachelor’s degree in Mechatronics engineering. Kyle said, “ Mechatronics engineering uses a combination of mechanical skills, electronic, and computer engineering skills to build smart machines and systems.” His father had taught him to code which led to him discovering Mechatronics and realizing that is what he wanted to do about a year ago. He is currently creating piano music and taking AP and honors classes to help him get to where he wants to be. After college, Kyle hopes to either do something with cybersecurity, or use his coding skills with musical creation, intertwining his passion with his work.
Lily Goedert, also an AHS junior, doesn’t yet know about college. She said “I’ll probably go to college.” However, she doesn’t quite know which one she would like to attend. If Lily does end up going to college, she would go for anthropology, the study of human societies and cultures and their developments. Lily said, “ It’s kind of like archaeology but about humans.” She discovered anthropology as a freshman through a former AHS student who was going to attend University of West Georgia for anthropology, before then, Lily had no idea it even existed. She said, “I started researching it and kinda figured that’s what I would want to do.” Lily’s favorite subject has always been history and she is currently taking APUSH to further studying the subject. After college as an anthropologist, Lily would travel around the world getting to experience many of today’s cultures while she studies the ancient.
A senior planning to attend Georgia Highlands, Braden Therber, is aiming to get a degree in natural resources and possibly a minor in Criminal Justice. Braden enjoys spending time outside and spends a lot of time fishing. Oftentimes he sees game wardens driving past and he thinks to himself how much fun the job of a game Warden would be. He said, “ I feel like that would be a fun job.” Only a month ago he decided that is what he wanted to do with his life, to be a game warden. Currently Braden is enrolled in dual enrollment classes to aid him in his journey.
During your junior and senior year of highschool is when you will be making your first few major decisions that will have a great impact on your life. The choices you make now could determine the entirety of your future. You could choose to keep putting off that homework and get a bad grade, possibly fail, or you could go ahead and get it done, maybe even study some too, and end up getting top grades and qualify for a scholarship. You don’t need to know what you want to do with your life right now and if you do know, then that idea might change. The most important thing is to set yourself up for success so you can have the ability to do anything your heart could desire to do in the future.
