Summer is just around the corner

Rising temperatures, overheard plans for camping trips and everyone's growing desire to sleep in: These can only mean one thing — summer is almost upon us. Hearing all of this talk of vacations (and "stay-cations") has really got me thinking about what my plans are for this summer, as well as what my fellow seniors have in mind for their summer break.

I decided to ask them what they hoped to do after our last year here at New Life Christian High School, both for the summer and what their plans are for pursuing higher education.

Some high school seniors that I've heard from simply want to attend a community college, get their A.A. degree and settle down here, without any desire for pursuing a major career. However, my class seems to have set the bar quite high for itself, and I have no doubt that we can do whatever we put our minds to.

Tim Joiner, a senior, said, "I'm really not sure what I'd like to do as far as a career. Honestly, I haven't even thought as far ahead as summer vacation."

Another senior, Mikie DeLozier, exclaimed, "I plan to just jam over the summer! Playing music is just my thing! But as for college and a career, I hope to find an occupation I'd like to pursue later on while I'm at Yuba."

Senior Ariel Marquette says that she doesn't have much planned for the summer, but that she will attend Yuba College to study to become a vet tech or a nurse.

Jimmy Gutierrez plans to attend Cal Poly after high school, as what I call a "Cal Pollywog." He hopes to become an engineer.

Waylon Cook also plans to go to Yuba College and will study information technology, as well as look for summer employment.

Sonya Singh will attend Yuba College as well, where she will study psychology. Katie Hornyak wants to be a cosmetics specialist, and Justin Malson has a camping trip planned for the summer along with working at the local raceway. He plans to study art at Yuba. Unfortunately, Gary Whiteley was unable to comment due to a school camping trip.

A majority of us plan to attend Yuba College in the fall and have a plethora of things that we are interested in or plan to pursue as careers. I will be going to Yuba College as well and will be studying to become an ag teacher.

Whatever we plan to do after high school, I know that we can accomplish anything. The time that each of us has spent here at New Life has no doubt prepared us for what the world has to throw at us.

Some of us have been here for four years; some have been here for 12. But however long one has been at this school, we have learned the principles we need for a long, fulfilling life.

General Beisley is a senior at New Life Christian High School. His column appears every six weeks in Education.