High school goals prepare students for college, military, work

By Cassidy LeFay
Southern Aroostook Community School student
    High school students always think they know what they want in life and the Southern Aroostook Community School alumni for the past three years are no exception. Many students knew what their goals were and thought they knew where they’d fit in with the real world. Some of those goals have successfully been completed, but some of SACS alumni have realized that the comfortable circle they enjoyed in high school has no connection to where they fit in with the real world.
    Several alumni were challenged to explain how their after high-school experience connected with their expectations. These alumni consist of college students, those who went straight to work, and those who decided to dedicate their careers to the U.S Army.
    Many of the college students have enjoyed college and because of their high school extra-curricular activities, they’ve seemed to find their place in college. Shelby Hartin, valedictorian of the Class of 2011, was involved in multiple extracurricular activities such as yearbook, drama club, band, the three sports offered, and served as class president for three years. Because of those activities, she says she felt comfortable joining more activities in college.                                                            
    A second student, Mallory Lawlor, Class of 2012, also stated that high school extra-curricular helped her a lot in college. Lawlor’s main sport in high school was soccer; this sport helped her a lot with her intramural soccer team and her major, athletic training. Because of all her injuries during high school soccer, she feels that she has an advantage in athletic training. Lawlor also said that her anatomy class in high school also helped with her athletic training.
    A third college student, Robert “Joey” Barnes, participated in every event/extra-curricular activity, he was able to. Barnes’ future goals in high school were to get accepted to all the colleges he applied to, to move out of state and get a good degree.
    “The direction in life that I would ideally like to take is completely opposite of what it was in high school,” he said.
    Barnes did complete his goal of getting accepted to every college he applied to, but is still making new goals every day to challenge himself.
    Travis Smith, Class of 2010, took a different path. Smith decided to dedicate his career to the U.S Army. Smith played baseball in high school, which he said really helped him with Army training. The early practices, the physical training and the teamwork prepared him a lot for training.
    Smith also said that his high school English class helped him communicate with others. Smith’s present goals are to finish his basic and individual training and become a military policeman. Once he completes those goals, he plans to get a college degree. Depending on his availability overseas, he is capable of taking online classes.
    Another student, Joseph Frazier, Class of 2012, also decided during his senior year to focus his career on fighting for our country. His goals during high school were to get good grades and after graduating to start his studies in athletic training.
    Frazier’s senior year, he decided to dedicate his career to the U.S Army and head off to training after graduation. Frazier was involved in a few extra-curricular activities, including all three sports offered and drama club. Sports helped him with getting into shape and drama helped him be himself in front of people and feel comfortable in front of people.
    Jasmine Rockwell, Class of 2011, is currently working on completing college, while having a job on the side. Rockwell participated in soccer, basketball and softball in high school. She states that soccer is a sport of communication and it taught her to how to communicate with others and work as a team.
    Another student who chose the path of working after high school was Keegan Qualey, Class of 2011.  Qualey’s goals in high school were simply to graduate and start the beginning of his working life. Qualey indicates that English, math and his psychology classes helped a lot with communicating and understanding people in the world.