With about 500 students in this year’s senior graduation class, there will undoubtedly be scholars following unique goals and futures. The graduation date is set for May 10, and some students will follow a different direction immediately after the event.

   According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in the United States, approximately 62% of United States high schoolers enroll in college immediately after finishing high school. Almost 45% go to four-year institutions and 17% enroll in two-year colleges. 

    While many students choose to enroll in college the following spring, it is not necessary for all careers. 

    According to administrative assistant Lois Magnuson, 76% of the 2026 Liberty seniors are going to college in the fall, with many of the remaining students choosing alternative paths.

Going Abroad

   Some students chose to study abroad after high school, to experience the world. Seniors Scarlet Langhorst and Olivia Messina both plan on going to St. Louis University-Madrid (SLU-Madrid) after high school. At SLU-Madrid, there is a large variety of majors for students to study.

   “I’ll study Communications, and I think I’m going to minor in International Business,” Langhorst said.

   This international program will help build connections from all over the world, within any field of study. 

   “When I visited Madrid in October of my senior year that really solidified the decision for me,”  Langhorst said.

   Messina is going to SLU-Madrid to study both Nursing and Public Health.

   “People need to not be afraid to take risks in life, and moving yourself to another country at 17 is a great risk,” Messina said.

  Similar to traditional college, studying abroad can be incredibly pricey for students. This is especially true when the studies are through an abroad program within a United States school.

Court Reporting

   Court reporting is an option for those who are interested in exploring the legal world. It teaches people how to transcribe stories with legal quality and precision. Alum Sloane Franges, hopes to go into this field. 

  “I was told that going to high school and then straight to college is the only safe option. I refused to believe that and I chose myself,” Franges said.

   Franges chose to start with court reporting as a way to fund herself as she seeks higher education. In Japan, she learned options are different for everybody.

   “I was so scared, and it’s okay to not be completely sure of your decisions you make in life,” Franges said. 

   Franges’s mother helped inspire her to go into a court reporting academy. Since her mother works in law, she had a hand in helping Franges build connections which were important for the field.

Public Safety

    The Fire Fighting Academy allows people like senior Jackson Bennett to learn to save lives. Bennett plans to go into the Fire Fighting Academy in Kearney.

   “My dad inspires me. He always tells me he wished he would have become a firefighter or a police officer or gone into the military right out of college,” Bennett says.

   Bennett realized this was what he wanted to do after visiting the summer before his senior year. 

   The challenge in pursuing a public safety career is braving potentially traumatic situations. It can be emotionally daunting to prepare for dangers all public safety personnel face.

Performing Arts

    The ability to perform can be a rich career. Senior Garrick Harris is interested in going into show business after high school.

   “The biggest challenge, when it comes to performing, is auditions. You can go for so long without being in a show just because of not being the right fit,’” Harris said.

   Harris has known his passion was in the performing arts for some time. His cousin inspired his drive to perform.

   “I went to one of my cousin’s dance recitals, and I fell in love with performing,” Harris said. 

   Going into the performing arts is risky. It is highly competitive. Harris plans to move to Branson to start his career, however, he hopes to ultimately make it in Hollywood.

   There are many options senior students took this year, other than going to college. While many still choose to go to a four-year institution, these few thought differently. To learn more about college, trade school or alternate plans, see the counseling department.