Class of 2017 grads heading off to college
Some things are easier said than done. August is finally upon us, and with the sweltering heat comes the great migration of college students. Polk graduates will be traveling all over the state- and countryto learn a trade that interests them. College is a major commitment and Polk youth stepped up to share whether or not the realization of what college demands has shifted their plans at all.
Ezra Jacobs just finished moving box after box of clothes and supplies into his dorm at Jacksonville State University where he will be studying music and participating in marching band. “Hopefully I'll be able to stick to the plans I've always had,” said Jacobs. “I've wanted to stay in the field of music for pretty much all my life, and now I'm thinking I want to be a band director or teacher.” Jacobs is a life long musician who shows no signs of losing interest in his passion, and the idea of having to pay for it hasn't scared him off at all. Jacobs said that it's “great to be free and decide what you want to do. I'm feeling pretty confident in this choice even after moving into a dorm away from home and having to pay for everything.”
Similarly, Gage Nesbitt has plans to move into his dorm at Reinhardt university on the 19th and doesn't seem to have changed his ambitions of majoring in theatre. “As a theatre major, I have opened up to the idea of teaching over the Summer. If I can't make it as a famous actor that is.” Nesbitt's case is unique because, like Jacobs, he is a life long musician and even served as band captain during his senior year at Rockmart High School. “The commitment of college isn't really what made me want to major in theatre over band,” said Nesbitt. “I'm still a musician at heart, and I may even serve in Reinhardt's marching band if they'll let me. I just gained a good appreciation of theatre recently, and hopefully, I could still apply some of my music knowledge to theatre.”
For future forensics student Chloe Brinkley, Dalton State university is still the go to choice. “I have the same plans. I want to do forensics and use that for criminal justice work.” Brinkley is adamant about her goals, but Polk's own forensics student once had a different plan. “If college were free, I'd be a cardiologist like I always wanted to be,” said Brinkley. “College is too expensive to go to school for 10 years. I really am looking forward to helping people with my background i n f orensics, though."
Brandon Whitehead is a graduate who just recently decided on where and what his schooling will consist of. “Basically, I chose becoming an electrician over a skill worker-which is essentially welding on sky scrapers and other dangerous places,” Said Whitehead. “The danger level of being a electrician is far lower so that had an impact on my choice, but Georgia Northwestern offers training for electricians, is nearby, and is cost efficient so that pretty much sealed the deal.” Whitehead mentioned that if he worked as an electrician he would be “saving money on any electrical work my house needs, and two, I could potentially start my own electrician business and become a master electrician.”