After high school, some students plan to head straight to college, some see themselves traveling and others find themselves diving right into work. But, for a few students at the high school, the future looks a little different: dressed in uniform and driven by purpose.
As students think about their careers, guidance counselors are encouraging them to explore all paths after high school, and college fairs are helping to expose them to military life. Students are exploring this option as an empowering decision.
Career Counselor Kate Kennedy said that military branches attending the college fair offer students unique opportunities and experiences and allow them to learn directly from recruiters.
“It’s an amazing opportunity and there’s really amazing benefits for some students,” Kennedy said. “They pay for college.”
Senior Wei-en Chai is enlisting in the military as a 91F, who manages the maintenance of artillery. He said he sees military service as impactful.
“I just want to do something that’s bigger than myself and then serve this great nation,” Chai said.
Chai, who feels excited but nervous, knows that to achieve his goal he’ll be pushed and challenged.
“When you’re afraid, that means you’re pushing your limits; you’re pushing yourself,” Chai said.
Senior Kasper Dziabek, who hopes to land a job in nuclear engineering in the Navy, said his brother’s experience inspired him to join the military. He sees it as an exciting opportunity.
“After I’d seen how well he was doing, I was like, ‘You know what, why not?’ Something not everybody would do, and it’s just a really interesting path that I would like to take,” Dziabek said.
Chai was also inspired as a kid by watching movies and by his father, who brought him to military exhibitions and supported his dreams.
“When I was young, I was always watching movies that inspire me to join the military,” Chai said. “Also my dad’s got connections in the military, back from my home country and that inspired me.”
Dziabek is going to Illinois for boot camp to prepare for the military and his future.
“I hope to get more disciplined, be on top of things. It’s really easy to just slack off, and I just want to get on top of things, so in my 30s or maybe even late 20s, I could live even more, I could live comfortably,” Dziabek said.
The high school doesn’t have a Reserve Officers Training Corps, the program that prepares students to become officers in the US Army, Navy and Air force, so Kennedy encourages students considering the military to explore and ask questions to stay informed.
“Be open minded and look at all of your options. Also be very educated around it,” Kennedy said. “Make sure you’re talking to your parents, the school and people who are knowledgeable about the military.”
