Seniors Choose Their Next Steps

By Jason O, Jaydon C. and Brady C.

The Class of 2019 currently attending Potosi High School consists of 32 students. This means that there are 32 different people with totally different lives and goals. There are many careers to choose from, but it may be very difficult to choose, especially as a senior. Every senior has to go through this process, and they all make their decisions based on their own personal reasons. Here are a few of our seniors who tell their story of what they are doing and why.

Jaydon Pfab, one of the seniors currently attending Potosi High, a member of the Art Club and the National Honor Society, plans on attending the University of Wisconsin-Stout for Computer Science. Pfab chose UW-Stout because they have the best school in the state for the career he has chosen. About six years ago, Jaydon began to play video games, which later influenced him to want to create those games. Over the years, After graduating from high school, he plans on going straight to college, and once he does that, he plans on creating an esports team. He plans on living on campus the first two years of college.

Jaydon’s advice for the underclassmen he will leave behind is this: “Do what you want and don’t be mean to other people because everyone has feelings just like you, and personally, I don’t like mean people, so don’t be one.”

Kurt Cardey, another one of the seniors attending Potosi High, is a 3-sport athlete. He plans on joining the United States military, specifically the Marines. Afterwards, Cardey plans on attending Southwest Tech to get an automotive degree. He doesn’t plan on participating in anything throughout college. Cardey’s advice to underclassmen is “Don’t slack off.”

Cyrus Siegert was chosen as a senior spotlight as well. Cyrus is a 2-sport athlete at Potosi, as well as an FCA and Environmental Club member. Cyrus was also a Forensics member for two years and in band for three. Cyrus explains that he will be attending The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater to get a Bachelor’s Degree in Business, as well as play for the football team during his four years. “I am planning on going to Whitewater because it is a good school for business and the campus is great.” Explained Cyrus. “In regards to football, I’d like to play this game as long as possible and this program gives me the best opportunity to do so.”

Cyrus continued to say that he would live on campus in a dorm, preferably with another football player. He expressed that he is also going straight to college next fall and would like to graduate in 4 years if possible. “I am open to joining clubs but I have to experience it, so we will see. After college however, I am not sure if I will stay in Wisconsin or not. Nobody really knows what the future will hold.” Siegert added.

Cyrus is a highly popular guy in the high school and looked up to by many underclassmen. His advice to those that are looking for guidance is simple but achievable: “Work hard, dream big, because anything is possible.”

Brittany Horner is another senior from the graduating class of 2019. Brittany is a 3-sport athlete, an FFA officer (President), in the Environmental Club, FCA, Band, SADD, Student Council (President), and the list goes on. Brittany will be attending Madison Area Technical College next fall to become a Veterinary Technician. It is a technical school and she will be there for two years. She explains that this school has the only program for her in the state of Wisconsin and the campus is great.

“The campus is only an hour and a half away. I think that is a perfect distance because it isn’t too close or too far away.” She continues, “Right now I’m not sure if I want to become an FFA State Officer next year or not. If I choose to do so, I will not be able to go to school right away next year, which would be okay with me. I still need to decide.”

Brittany also says that she will be involved in FFA no matter what while in college. She loves the organization and always wants to be a part of it somehow, even if that means not being a State Officer. Other than FFA, she doesn’t know what else she will be involved in, but there will surely be more.

“After college, I'd like to live in Potosi and start a family here someday. I like the small town feel and that everybody knows each other and can rely on each other. My family and friends all live here and I don’t really want to leave any of that.” Brittany also added her advice for underclassmen. “Get involved in everything possible because there is only a short time to do so.”

While there are some students interested in possibly pursuing the same career paths, even close friends can have different ideas on where their lives will go. Maggie Schmitz will likely be majoring in biochemistry at UW-Stout in Menominee, Wisconsin this upcoming fall. This is the first step in fulfilling her dream of being a family physician some day. Maggie says that she wants to be a physician because it combines her love for science with helping people. It is also a career where she will do something different every day, meaning she will not get bored. She also wants to participate in a program that Stout offers that allows students to travel to struggling countries to help treat patients.

Maggie also plans on participating in the track and field team, running the hurdles and some short sprints. At Stout, she believes that she will continue to excel with high quality coaching and better facilities. Being on the track team will also help open more doors, and allow her to meet more people. Meeting new people will be one of the biggest issues in attending college 3½ hours away. Even though she will be new to the area, anyone who knows Maggie would agree that she will make new friends with ease.

Maggie does not plan for her schooling career to end at Stout, however. She plans on furthering her education by attending graduate school when she finishes her first degree. While she hasn’t looked that far into schools, she wants to attend one in a bigger city for the experience. As of right now, the University of Iowa would be her top choice for graduate school.

Lexie Brandt has elected to stay away from the four year college path. She will be attending SWTC in Fennimore next fall, where she will be majoring in business management. Lexie isn’t quite sure what she wants to do with that degree, but she knows that it is a degree that translates to a good job that is unlikely to go away.

While Southwest Tech doesn’t offer any sports that Lexie wants to participate in, she does plan to be involved in the community and in a social setting. She has many friends that attend SWTC, and will spend a lot of her time with them. Since Fennimore is close to her hometown, Lexie won’t have to look too far to find many of her friends from high school either.

Although Maggie and Lexie have plans of a much different life, their advice to underclassmen and anyone going through school was very similar. Both young women preached the importance of focusing on oneself and their grades over all else. They said that when they were really struggling in school, they followed their own advice and it eventually got much better.

All of these lives are impressive, and their futures are promising. Each one, and so many more, will provide our world with great things. It just goes to show you that no matter the path, somebody’s place in society is always important for so many reasons. Congratulations and good luck to these and all seniors graduating this year.