With graduation on the horizon, seniors at Marist are beginning the transition from high school to college, choosing majors that will help pave the way toward their future careers.
Despite these important decisions, many seniors remain uncertain about what they want to do in life. While some feel confident in their chosen paths, others see college as an opportunity to explore different interests before committing to a future career.
For many seniors, uncertainty stems from the pressure to make a lifelong decision at a young age. With countless career options available and limited real-world experience, choosing the right major can feel overwhelming.
Some students worry about selecting a path that may not align with their interests in the long run, while others feel influenced by expectations from family or teachers. As a result, many seniors view college as a time to explore rather than immediately commit to a single career.
Some seniors here at Marist know exactly what they want to do in the future. Some students plan to pursue careers in fields such as healthcare, business, or engineering.
Senior Ian Westfall is passionate about pursuing a career in finance. “I plan to major in finance at university next year, which will teach me the skills necessary to pursue my dream career of working for a hedge fund.” Westfall is attending Texas Christian University in the fall.
While most seniors tend to major in a business-related field, some opt for a different route.
Senior Bennett Patterson, who is still undecided about where he will attend college, shared that he aspires to become a dentist. “I am interested in pursuing this career because it runs in my family, specifically on my dad’s side. My father’s dad and uncle are both dentists who started their own dentistry together,” Patterson shared.
One example of an inspiring career path is that of business teacher, Dr. Priestley, who previously worked in London for Visa before transitioning into education.
After gaining experience in the global business world, she chose to bring that real-world knowledge into the classroom. Drawing from firsthand experience in finance and international business, Dr. Priestley helps students understand how the concepts they learn in class apply beyond high school. “Learning how to work with data will help you, ultimately, no matter what you choose to do professionally, pretty much every domain within the economy now is dominated by data.” Priestley shared.
As graduation approaches, seniors at Marist are learning that uncertainty does not mean failure. Instead, it represents opportunity, growth, and the freedom to explore.
No matter where their paths lead, the Class of 2026 is stepping into the future with determination.
