What is the class of 2022 doing now?

By Jett Legry, Reporter

The graduating class of 2022 have begun their post-high school journeys as some attend college and others explore what the world has to offer. Each of their experiences is unique and they’re eager to share how far they’ve already come after leaving high school.

Phoebe Wilke is attending Cardiff metropolitan university in Wales while earning a Bachelors of Arts in Ceramics and a masters degree in Art Therapy.

Wilke was initially surprised by the opportunities that international schooling offered.

“[I wanted] to stay on the West Coast… but that quickly changed when I took the time to research out of country options. Although it seems like a pretty daunting thought, I have really enjoyed the experience of going to school out of the country and would highly recommend it,” Wilke said.

Caleb Hecht took another post-high school approach, opting to travel and volunteer around the globe.

Recently, Hecht volunteered at an orphanage in Pokhara, Nepal, helping to fundraise money to provide essential items for the Makawanpur people. Hecht also recommends traveling the world but says it doesn’t have to be school related.

“[Take] a chance to see the world; the insight on life that you will get is incomparable… I can’t sum up into words the power of the other angles of life you will see,” Hecht said.

Another large difference post-high school is the freedom, which carries a mix of relief and responsibility. While nobody is saying what one should do, nobody is reminding one of what they need to do.

Lucy Wing is attending Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. Wing believes that life after high school is much more rewarding, especially surrounding opportunities.

“[The] biggest difference… is the pressure that I had on myself… I feel I have a lot more confidence to reach out and try something new, meet new people, and really embrace this time in my life to explore,” Wing said.

Sam Walker is living in Washington D.C. and is attending George Washington University to study international affairs.

Walker believes that freedom is relaxing but simultaneously warns about the potential pitfalls of this reality.

“[You] realize the amount of freedom you have and while this is great, it is also something to be wary of as for the first time in your life there is not a direct person pushing you and making sure you are caught up,” Walker said.

Sometimes, life isn’t only about pushing oneself in academics; it’s also figuring out who one wants to be as a person.

Evan Keppler is attending Washington State University obtaining a Bachelors of Science in Data Analytics.

Keppler feels that it’s easier to realize who one wants to be in college. After high school in a small town, a new place and new people can be a welcome breath of fresh air. This change of environment can be influential in more ways than one.

“[I’ve] been able to find who I want to be in college a lot easier than I could have in high school… Freshman year [of college], you find yourself; you figure out what you want to be pursuing, what to be, what you want to do,” Keppler said.

Each student from the 2021-22’s graduating class is learning about life and themselves as they find their individual paths in the post-high school world.