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MOving Out Class of 2023 shares why they choose to go out of state for college
Students are attending collleges across the country. They are happy as they enter their new journey in life. From Kansas, to New York, Spartans are attending a vast By Analiesa Hollowood Staff Reporter variety of colleges. Illustration By: Analiesa Hollowood As the last year of seniors’ high school careers comes to his plans for his career. a close, many have decided to pursue a collegiate education. “I will be studying exercise science and playing baseball there. I’m As they pursue their options for the 2023-2024 school year, they are going there with a sport’s scholarship and I really want to do something met with a crucial question. In state? Or out of state? Surprising even with athletics in general. I want to help people understand the body so themselves, many students are yearning for a life outside their home they can better come back from injury or something like that. I’m very state’s boundaries. excited,” Harris said. There are several reasons to consider in and out of state schooling. Senior Madi Valenti, attending Illinois State this fall, was also enticed Economics, scholarships, career programs, and prestige are all notable towards the out of state experience. factors. The need for a change, She loved the community, athletic especially, resides deeper than the opportunity, and most of all the rest within the hearts of the class of distance. Only an hour-and-a-half 2023. Seniors are sick of the culture drive, Valenti felt as though she and “vibe” of suburban Missouri. was far enough away to gain her Senior Sarah Henderson is attending independence and have her own life, Central Michigan University after while still being able to return home graduation, and has known her if needed. calling to leave the Show-Me State “I wanted to be a reasonable ever since fifth grade. distance away, but still could still “I’ve always wanted to go out of drive home in a day and it’d be fine. state and just live a little differently. So Illinois State is like an hour-andThis just feels kind of natural for me a-half, two hours away. And it’s not now and I’m really excited to just get that far, but it’s still not here. So I out there. It’s kind of fun to make my was like, sounds good,” said Valenti. own way,” Henderson said.. The Map outside of the guidance office shows where in the US students As she strolled through the Henderson also found throughout are attending college next year. More than ever, Seniors are going or streets of her soon to be home’s her college search that Central Michigan want to go out of state for college. Photo By: Kyly Jacobs. campus, she was enamored by the University had a friendliness that many atmosphere. She knew quickly, this Missoui schools lacked. Instead of the uptight nature she was used to from was where she was meant to be. It was refreshing yet familiar at the same previous tours, she was blown away by just how accepting Michigan was. time. It had the charm of the midwest which she had grown used to, while Instead of throwing statistics of how superior the school was in comparison also having the spark of something new. to others, Henderson’s tour guide smiled and welcomed her kindly to her “I’m getting a new experience in a new state because like, honestly, future home. once you see one town in Missouri, you’ve seen it all. It’s all gonna be “Whenever I went on the campus tour, you know, it’s like, all the other the same. So just like new, new communities, new people, new, even new ones that I went to were kind of uptight, you know, but this one was way stores,” said Valenti. more friendly. You know, everybody was open,” said Henderson. The same old routine of life in Missouri has gotten to these seniors as Other seniors, such as Lane Harris, are leaving simply to pursue a well as many others. Some desperate to leave cannot for a magnitude better fit school. Sports scholarships and athletic opportunities are a huge of reasons. It is a difficult time for seniors, especially those moving a reason to leave Missouri. University of Charleston, Harris’s soon to be great distance, but the freedom for the Show Me State they will gain in source of education, has offered an extensive baseball scholarship and a exchange is well worth the trouble in their eyes. Missouri has just gotten prestigious program, something no Missouri school could offer. Harris is old, and members of the class of 2023 can’t wait to break free. excited and passionate about where his future schooling will lead him and