By Kye Berger
As senior year starts winding down, many students are thinking about graduation, college, and what’s next. But for some seniors, the next step isn’t just about picking a school—it’s about choosing a path that really means something to them.
While students often choose common majors like nursing, education, or business, a few are taking a different route and chasing careers that are not only unique, but deeply personal.
Chase Flannery is going to the University of Cincinnati for medical imaging. Flannery’s choice in major comes from personal experience.
Chase’s younger brother, Will Flannery, was diagnosed with brain cancer at a young age. During Will’s treatment, Chase spent a lot of time at the University of Cincinnati hospital, where his brother had to go through tough procedures like MRIs and proton therapy—a high-tech treatment that uses beams to target cancer. Those moments left a big impact on Chase.
Watching what his brother went through made him curious about how those machines worked and inspired him to choose medical imaging as his major. Sadly, Will passed away on February 20, 2024, at just 8 years old. Now, Chase says he wants to help others like his brother and turn something painful into something good.
He plans to start as an MRI tech and eventually move into medical sales. The program is only two years long, and students get into real hospital work in the second year, which means they can start working and earning money quickly.
“It’s not just about making the most money,” Chase said. “It’s about doing something that makes me feel good—helping people like my brother.”
He admits it can be hard being in hospital settings that remind him of tough times, but he says that also motivates him. Helping others through similar situations makes it all worth it.
Alayna Anderson will attend Ball State University for meteorology. She’s always been curious about how it works—especially when it comes to severe storms. That interest is now becoming her future. She said she chose Ball State not only because it’s close, but because she’s getting a lot of financial help, including scholarships and tuition discounts since her stepmom works there.
She explained that meteorology isn’t just about becoming a weather reporter on TV.
“There are a lot of directions you can go,” she said. “You can work for the National Weather Service, for private companies like agriculture, or even do research.”
One of the best parts of the program is the hands-on learning in the new Cooper Science building, where students can observe real-time weather instead of only sitting in lectures. She plans to study for four years, then maybe move out east—hopefully to North Carolina—to get her master’s in meteorology or atmospheric science.
Evan Barker is choosing creativity as his future. He’s heading to Ball State, too, but instead of forecasting storms, he’ll be writing scripts, stories, and maybe even jokes for TV as a creative writing major.
“I just enjoy writing,” Evan said. “Especially coming up with original ideas. I’d love to write for a late-night show.”
He said people don’t always realize that the hosts on TV aren’t just talking off the top of their heads. Writers are behind the scenes coming up with material. Evan wants to be one of those writers.
He likes that creative writing offers many job paths, especially remote ones, which means he could stay in Indiana and work from home. One challenge is that the major sometimes needs to be paired with a minor to land certain jobs, but he’s confident in where he’s headed. His main goals are to finish college, get a good writing job, and save money.
Lilly Scholarship winner Zach Baty has big plans—he wants to become a neurosurgeon. He’s heading to Wabash College to study neuroscience and pre-med, and he’s also continuing his passion for swimming. Zach said Wabash stood out to him because of its strong science programs and opportunities to study abroad and work on global health.
Neuroscience focuses on the brain and spinal cord, and it’s a major that can lead to jobs in research, labs, or surgery. Zach is aiming for medical school after Wabash, hopefully Indiana University, and then wants to begin residency.
“It takes a lot of time and work, but it’s what I want to do,” he said.
A big goal of his is to succeed both in his studies and in the pool.
These students may be choosing different majors and careers, but one thing connects them: They’re not afraid to take their own path. Whether it’s helping people, writing stories, chasing storms, or studying the brain, each senior is choosing a future that actually means something to them.
