SENIORS SPILL THE TEA on post-graduation

With June 9 approaching, many seniors are one foot out the door. For Haven’s seniors, those doors are leading to many new destinations and diverse paths.

Before they could get the other foot loose from Strath Haven, we asked some members of the senior class for advice on planning and deciding on a post-graduation plan. As you will read, their stories reflect a variety of paths. There is no onesize-fits-all model for graduates.

We needed to abbreviate some of their advice for space, and not every interviewee’s story is included here. Please visit shpantherpress.com to read everything they had to say.

Rhys Hals ’23, Aïssata Koné ’23, Matthew Chen ’23

What are your post-graduation plans?

I’m going to Columbia [College], Chicago for music.

How did you make your decision?

I was making music in middle school. And I took off with it. I decided to go to school for it post high school. How would you describe your post-grad search?

I really just applied to schools that I thought had what I wanted. I had a niche of what I wanted. I wanted schools that have good music, but also that were just a good overall school, but music was mainly the big thing for me. Location wasn’t really that big of a deal. I just wanted to go to a school that was right for me.

What advice do you have?

Going into college, you’re not going to know what you want to do. It’s okay to not know. I’ve heard a lot of people say that [it’s] guaranteed you’re going to switch majors, so it’s okay to go undecided.

What are your post-graduation plans?

I’m going to be attending the [Delaware County] Community College and I plan on majoring in Computer Science.

How did you make your decision?

I’ve always wanted to go to college. So, it wasn’t about do I want to go? I’ve always wanted to go. I just didn’t picture myself going to community college…I was going to go to Holy Family like in Northeast [Philadelphia] but yeah. I just really thought… it’s gonna be a sacrifice but I’d rather save money and just transfer later on.

How would you describe your post-grad search?

At first I didn’t want to do it, to be quite honest. But then was just like, it is what it is, you know?

What advice do you have?

Don’t like feel forced to do it. Make the decision on your own. Don’t do it because other people are doing it or because, maybe, your parents are forcing you to. Just do it because you want to do it. You don’t want to be unhappy about your decision at the end of the day.

What are your post-graduation plans?

I’m going to go to LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) school which is licensing through a year-long program. After I graduate there I’m going to go to nursing school at Delaware County Community College for two years and get my associates. And then I’m going to do the bridge program there so I can go to a university for two more years to get my Bachelors degree in nursing.

How did you make your decision?

I actually enjoy helping people, and my mom is a nurse. It’s a good job to have, it’s a guaranteed one, it’s never gone. We’re always going to need nurses. Say if something like COVID happens again—I’m going to always have a job.

How would you describe your post-grad search?

I had to take a TEAS test, it’s basically like a placement test but not really. It’s math, reading and science. You have to score between a 44-57. It was a hard test but that’s all you have to do. It’s a full time program, every day 8:30-4:15. There are clincials and stuff.

What advice do you have?

I would say stay focused. When you go to nursing school, you’re not going to have a lot of time to hang, but but it’s worth it in the long run. It’s a good thing to do, people respect you for it. If you actually enjoy helping people you should go into the medical field.

What are your post-graduation plans? Oberlin College.

How did you make your decision?

I stressed a lot between another college that’s the opposite of Oberlin, but so much cheaper. But I decided ultimately that for me wanting a very hands-on, close learning environment, and to be with my best friend in the world Rhys [Hals], that Oberlin was a better option and a better investment.

How would you describe your post-grad search?

A nightmare. A dark nightmare. With stress and essay after essay and no help from guidance. And there was not ever a point where I was like, this is worth it. Maybe there will be in four years.

What advice do you have?

I would say you have to know what you want. Then you need to have a good coping mechanism. I did yoga. What else? I did a lot of talking about it., excessive amount of talking.

What are your post-graduation plans?

I’m going to be attending the Air Force Academy. I’m looking to fly for them. I’ve actually been working on my pilot’s license for a little while now.

How did you make your decision?

Probably my mom, honestly. She kind of got me into flying. And then my brother attended the Naval Academy. So he’s kind of like my military background. And then I saw that the Air Force specializes in a lot of the flying, obviously. So that’s kind of what I wanted to do.

How would you describe your post-grad search?

[I found out about it] through my brother. And my sister went to school out in Colorado—that’s where the Air Force Academy is. I visited and loved it, it was super cool. And they told me all the programs they have.

What advice do you have?

Don’t procrastinate. The Academy is a lot of work just to apply, because you have to do so many interviews and a lot of essays. It kind of all built up during fall time. I definitely was very, very stressed. They say your senior year is your best year. But I was definitely the most stressed I’ve ever been.