By Kennedi Wilson
With graduation just a few months away, seniors’ careers are changing, new goals are forming, and future plans are shifting. While many still have no idea what they want to do, some have figured it out. With the help of another, their high school career has changed for the better.
“Honestly, I didn’t know (that) I needed to change until after I had changed, and then I had looked back and kind of saw the change that had happened, and at that point, I realized I actually needed to change,” senior Mason Hopper said.
Hopper has been Christian his whole life but when coming into high school he wasn’t “living the life” like he is now. In his everyday life he makes time for his Bible study and prayer time.
He didn’t realize this change until around the end of his freshman year and beginning of his sophomore year. When he saw the different perspective he had on other things, that’s when he knew he needed to continue following the Lord and His word.
“It definitely changed my high school career for the better and caused me to pursue excellence in everything that I do,” Hopper said.
To further change his career for the better he plans to attend Ball State University and trust the Lord to wherever He takes Hopper next.
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For senior Lina Pan, what changed her career wasn’t a person but was a class she fell in love with. Taking computer science in sixth grade and then taking it again her freshman year with Mr. Lewman made her realize what she wanted to do.
Making a career out of that topic sounded appealing to Pan. She plans to study cybersecurity at Purdue University. She will be trying to get an internship at a tech company as she progresses in that field of study.
“My parents, they had me thinking about college from really young so I’ve always been sort of focused on what I want to do after my high school is finished, and I’d had to apply to colleges and decide what sort of job I want,” Pan said. “This has an impact on my future because it’s what my future will be.”
Having friends around in the class helped her engage more in the subject and made her realize that although it can be tedious for some, she found it fun and is going to make a career out of it.
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Being quiet in class didn’t get senior Kayley Shipley far in high school. When she came into freshman year she didn’t have many friends. Taking band with Delta graduate Naomi Sherman helped Shipley turn around her high school career.
She said that in the middle of her freshman year she felt more comfortable talking to people, knowing she had an upperclassman who gave her the confidence she needed.
When it comes to going to college Shipley is unsure about where she wants to go but she plans to major in radiology. She focused on taking more science classes as she progressed throughout high school. Doing so helped her figure out what she wanted to be.
“Don’t just take a class for an easy A,” Shipley said. “Pick something that will challenge you.”
Choosing the harder classes that Sherman recommended to Shipley helped her when figuring out what she wanted to do.
She also said she feels more comfortable when speaking aloud in class as well as staying involved in classroom activities.
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Senior Luke Hewitt also found that his relationship with God had a big impact on his high school career. When he grew closer with his faith freshman year he knew he wanted to prioritize God and let his future be a part of God’s plan.
Being baptized is what officially made the change. He was baptized at a young age but it didn’t really set in until later on in his life. Hewitt then focused more on reading the Bible, making sure he understood everything that he was reading.
Hewitt’s change came at a good time for him, but he said he would’ve liked it if he was living his faith from the moment he knew about it.
Going further Hewitt is undecided what college he plans to attend but he does want to study ministry. He is not sure if that means getting a college degree in that area or just having ministry on the side.
Being Christian with his friends also gave him the encouragement he needed to continue following his faith. Growing with his friends in something they all believe made it easier on him when having a conversation.
“I’ve been able to grow with my friends in my faith, which has been super cool because sometimes when you find your faith, you cut off friends because their values aren’t exactly aligned, but that was the complete opposite,” Hewitt said. “I took my faith and I followed the word and poured what I believed into my friends, not in a pushy way just so they understood, and I feel like that’s been super cool to just be able to go into those relationships as well as my relationship with Christ.”
