Going to college can be scary, but Gabrielle Hodkinson (12) is ready for the change. Hodkinson committed to Western Michigan University in early February and is a bit nervous about the transition.

“It’s a big change, but I come from a family of six so I’m kind of ready to get out on my own, with some people who are my age, so I’m excited,” Hodkinson said.

Taking a tour of the schools she considered attending is what helped Hodkinson be able to envision herself there. Being able to see herself in the space where she’ll be living  helped convince her to attend Western. 

“It took me a long time to decide,” Hodkinson said. “Just sitting down and looking at information on a website or on a paper was really difficult, but once I got there it was a lot easier.”

Knowing the opportunities that the school offers is another important aspect to take into consideration.

“There’s a lot of connection between the students and the staff at [Western Michigan University],” Hodkinson said. “It seems like a very personal college, which I enjoyed.” 

Hodkinson is committed to the Honors College at Western. The Honors College will create more traveling and volunteer opportunities. They also offer training with more advanced classes.

“In the Honors College there’s a lot of volunteer opportunities within the community [and] honestly, I’m just excited to find a new community of people,” Hodkinson said.

Hodkinson decided to major in sociology because she wants to pursue a career in something that is community based. She is attracted to sociology because it deals with the justice system, which would help her create better opportunities for people in minority groups. Her freshman year will entail a lot of experimenting to see what will be a good fit for her.

“I have always wanted to help people and be involved with a community,” Hodkinson said. “ I want to work with people in relationships where we can build trust and communities and just help people have as much space and freedom as they need.”

Making a decision can be a stressful time for seniors deciding what the next step is going to be. Hodkinson believes that one of the most important things with college decisions is taking your time.

“When you commit to a college you’re not committing your entire life there,” Hodkinson said.

Finding a college that suits his passions is what Deontae Macey (12) did. Macey will be attending the Rome City Institute in Rome, Italy, where he will be playing basketball. At Rome City Institute he will start playing basketball as a club, then, depending on his success, he may play with pro teams.

“I believe that my talents can go to the next level and play in college,” Macey said.

Macey has known he wanted to play basketball in college since eighth grade. Basketball is special to Macey and he has a deep connection to the sport.

“It’s kind of like a way to kind of clear my mind,” Macey said. “I started playing when I was a little kid so it kind of just stuck with me. It helps me to relax and keep going every day.”

When committing to a college, also comes choosing a major. Macey was able to confide in his mom and together they decided that it would be best for him to major in international business.

“My mom has a business degree and was like you can do a lot with business,” Macey said.  “So we had a sit-down conversation and talked about it and we felt like that was the best option.”

What senior students decide to do after high school is going to look different for everyone. For Macey, being able to take his time and having faith that everything will work out is what helped him.

“Don’t stress about it,” Macey said. “You may see a lot of your friends or other people committing to colleges but take it at your own pace.”