From practical choices to dream schools, seniors are beginning to finalize their college decisions. Personal and academic goals are guiding the next big decision in their lives. Although each student’s journey is unique, the transition to college reveals shared dreams and pressures that shape their next step in education.
Senior class president Chase Harris verbally committed to play college football for Carnegie Mellon University. Although it is across the country, Harris is looking forward to pursuing his athletic and academic career with a fresh start.
“I was first attracted to this college because academically, it is one of the top-rated schools in the nation for both business and computer science,” Harris said. “Athletically, they’re constantly in the playoffs for division three, with a very competitive team.”
Carnegie Mellon provides a platform for Harris to achieve his goals both on and off the field. Majoring in business with a concentration in biotechnology, Harris is hoping to leave behind a legacy not just as a football player, but as someone who can manage being a student athlete while excelling in both.
“I want to make the playoffs and go for a championship, while also being a starting lineman as a freshman,” Harris said. “It’s also important to me to make an impact in my teammates’ lives, and to come in strong as a leader of the team.”
“I’m excited to take what I’ve learned here from the Carlsbad football program and the coaching staff with me to Carnegie Mellon,” Harris said. “The leadership, work ethics, and discipline we were taught here are really going to make a difference in college.”
Senior Khang Pham will be pursuing economics at Harvard University. After considering many UC’s and Ivy League schools in California, Harvard remained his top choice.
“I am going to be concentrating in real estate financial analysis, and Harvard is very specific in this,” Pham said. “There is a club called Hureig, which is the Harvard undergraduate real estate investment group, so I can have a community of people pursuing the same thing as me.”
Pham has plans to use Harvard to help him get a job in the future. His experience at Harvard will allow him to enter the competitive circle with more ease.
“Harvard is known for having a crazy network, and real estate is all about connections,” Pham said. “Their network will get me to meet owners of companies properties that I will want to invest in later on, which is very beneficial to start this at a collegiate level.”
Pham also plans on walking on the volleyball team, where former teammate and Carlsbad High alumnus Oliver Doty plays. He shares that Harvard aligns perfectly with his long term goals of not only being successful but also growing his circle of friends and interests.
“I am really excited to meet new people in and out of the same major as me and step out of my comfort zone,” Pham said. “It’s going to be really fun to meet new people who aren’t from California or around here.”
Senior Taylor Stout plans on attending California Baptist University to pursue business. With Stout’s father being an alumnus of CBU and being in the baseball hall of fame, she is not new to the environment of her future school.
“They are very organized and have very small classes, which stood out to me the most,” Stout said. “I learn better with smaller groups where I get to know each individual person, so I knew this school was a good fit for me.”
Stout shares that the hardest part of the application process was narrowing down what to specify for the college essay. Also unsure of what to major in at first, she acknowledges that the most important thing to remember is to stay true to yourself.
“The colleges you’re applying to want you for who you are, so be yourself,” Stout said. “Don’t be afraid to explore other options of majors or even colleges.”
Stout expresses that leadership is something that she will be practicing at CBU. Being cheer captain for three years at her former high school and jumping into Carlsbad’s Varsity cheer program her senior year, she knows how to adapt well.
“I am going to focus on really trying to understand what I’m learning, and to make sure I have a close relationship with each of my teachers,” Stout said. “As much as I will miss high school, I am really excited to start this new chapter of my life.”
