Piedmonters Pick Post-Grad Plans

Ella Fleischer

As students ride the road of life toward the end of their high school career, some continue on their way towards a four year university the following fall, while other students take a different path.
Several PHS seniors have made the decision to not immediately enroll in a four-year college following high school, and are instead attending a community college with the goal of later transferring to a university, or taking a gap year and going pursuing college the next year.
Senior Emmet Asulin plans to take a gap year to travel Asia and immerse himself in the culture the continent has to offer.
Asulin said his brother took a gap year a few years prior and his father did something similar after completing his military service before returning to the workforce, which inspired him to follow in their paths.
“I plan to explore rural parts of Asia and learn about the culture of various countries [there],” Asulin said. “I originally was inspired to learn about buddhism when I took AP Art History my junior year.”
According to the Harvard Business Review and the American Psychological Association, students who take a gap year perform better in the classroom than their peers and have a generally better attitude about school.
“I don’t feel like I am missing out on having the college experience right now,” Asulin said. “We spend the first 18 years of our lives worrying about school; I think we all could use a break before going to school for another four [years].”
Asulin said he wants to take time off from school to have an inspirational experience before attending a four-year university. He said he plans to write college essays about his trip, which will help him transition into school after his time off.
“I want to get the most out of being uncomfortable. I want to step out of my comfort zone and have a raw experience,” Asulin said.
Asulin he has talked with a gap-year advisor to discuss his plan for his trip, but believes he will get more out of his year abroad with less structure involved
“I am leaning more towards going into [the trip] with little to no plan.” Asulin said.
Asulin plans to depart for Japan in August and work his way to South Korea and then southward towards Southeast Asia.
On a different path, senior Melo Dowdell plans to attend a nearby community college to stay close to home while receiving an education with the plan to transfer to a four-year university afterward.
“I have looked into several community colleges nearby and would like to stay [close to] home and manage money while getting an education,” Dowdell said. “I plan to study Kinesiology and pursue a career in [sports physical therapy].”
Dowdell said not a lot of people in his family went to college and his parents helped influence his decision to pursue community college after high school.
“I want to show discipline by going to college after high school. I didn’t want to be left [without a] plan,” Dowdell said.
Dowdell said he is motivated to go to school despite few in his family pursuing that same path.
Senior Will Ferreira is going down a similar route— he plans to attend Santa Barbara City College this fall to study business administration and transfer to a four-year university after his time at SBCC.
Ferreira said he has enjoyed not dealing with the stress of college applications that the typical high school seniors have.