Where are Seniors going after graduation? 

-Emily Velazquez  

Where are you going after graduation? the class of 2021 will be walking across the stage very soon, and it has many thinking seniors haven’t had a huge discussion on what they are doing or where they are going after graduation. Many students brought up the fact that they’ve they haven’t had a great support system during the FAFSA process, during the application process and even through the acceptance, denial or waitlist answer. Given that it has been a lonely road for many, and the support isn’t completely there as much as it should’ve for students throughout this pandemic many have been starting on their future plans. Three polls were made on Instagram stories questions went out to Morton east and west seniors and a few Cristo Rey seniors about where they decided on going after they graduated either college, military or trade school, also one included a “other” box if what they planned on doing wasn’t an option on the polls. Each one of those polls had the same seniors and were all asked on different days each. 

One of the questions asked was whether students were going to college. In a poll of 45 students, 71% voted yes they’ll be going to college and 29% voted no they will not be going.

The next poll was about Trade school. In a poll of 41 students, 44% voted yes  they’ll be going to trade school and 56% voted no.

 The third poll was about the military. In a poll of of 40 students, 13% voted yes they will be going to the military and 87% voted no. 

Lastly, the question was about any other different career or pathway and one talked about an apprenticeship and one talked about air flight attending programs, one senior also talked about taking a year break before heading to college. 

The number of responses received were honestly not expected and thankfully many Morton’s students and students from Cristo Rey are thinking about the future and where it can take them. Looking deep into it many seniors were having the same difficulty an article helped put it together about students in NYC Bugle Park having the same difficulty as our seniors and to say the least it surely feels good to know our 2021 seniors aren’t alone in this. A student from Bugle park said, “it felt like my focus is split between high school and college.” https://www.parkbugle.org/comos-class-of-2021-struggles-with-strange-senior-year/ 

After the poll Two Morton seniors decided to speak about their graduation views and struggles during the college process. 

Morton west senior Noah Rios who plans on joining the army after graduation said “Enjoy it while it last and really do what u want to do and who cares if other people will make fun of you or judge you do whatever u want because in the end of the day if it’ll make u happy do it this is your life have no regrets If you don’t do it now, you won’t get the chance to later.” 

Morton east senior Marisol Nunez said, “I feel very excited that we will be able to experience graduation unlike class of 2020, but sad that my high school experience will be over.” 

Even if you don’t yet have a clue where to go or what you want to do there’s still time and even if it feels lonely there’s people to help, even though senior is the last year we are still young and mistakes are only bound to happen. The start to new beginnings is coming, best of luck to the class of 2021.