Wow! Time goes by so fast. It feels just like just yesterday when I was signing on to my computer, starting my first year of high school at iUPrep, and seeing my future after graduation as only a blurry dream. Now, as a junior, I look ahead to life after high school. Who knows what the future will hold? I can’t know for sure, but I am actively working to make my hopes a reality. 

In preparation for all our Owls moving on, I reached out to fellow students and asked them what their future dreams and aspirations look like as they prepare to leave the nest. Some Owls are excited, anxious, or a little bit of both. It’s completely natural to feel scared or even a little lost during times of transitions. In fact, most high school juniors and seniors feel nervous when they anticipate how all their efforts and accomplishments in high school will shape their future.

Some juniors at IUP already know their university choices, such as Daniel Hall, who mentioned attending the University of North Texas because he wants to stay close to home. Others, like Tessa Bradley, are unsure of their future but hold onto dreams from childhood and want to make these dreams a reality. Others are hoping to pave the way for new advancements. For example, both Suprit Giri and Joseph Arifin hope to one day become AI engineers. Some students are more interested in sharpening their creative and technical skills, like Delaney Kneuper, who hopes to continue animating characters. For more insight into the minds of these juniors, see their quotes below!

“For me, I know I’m trying to go to UNT because my mom currently goes there and out of all the schools I’ve considered, that’s by far the closest to me.” –Daniel Hall

“My dream that I’ve had since I was six years old is to become a bestselling author, but I’m considering doing something in the computer science field until I become successful through writing.”– Tessa Bradley

“I’m planning to go to either UTD or UT Austin for college, and I’ll either major in computer science or software engineering. After my undergrad, I want to become a software engineer and I can become one by doing either of those majors. Still, my main goal is to become an AI engineer”– Suprit Giri

“For me, it would probably be an animator, maybe A&M or University of Houston.”-Delaney Kneuper

All in all, the future can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be a nightmare. You can slay your fears of the future one step at a time. Make a plan, reach out to others who can offer assistance and advice, and do the work in order to make your dreams a reality. Take on the world! Your future is waiting, so get on your way!