Amid the furry of Prom preparations and unexpected school closings last week, National Decision Day came and went.
Falling on May 1 every year, Decision Day traditionally marks the deadline for college-bound high school seniors to confirm their intentions for the following year. At NASH, however, the day encompasses all seniors and their future plans, whether they involve college, the military, trade school, or a career.
“I have known what I am going to do for many years,” NASH senior Anthony Spino stated. “I am going to the Navy after I graduate.”
Over the last year, many more high school graduates have decided to go into the military. In the fiscal year 2024, the armed services branches recruited 12.5% more people into the military compared to previous years.
At NASH, however, a majority of seniors decide to attend college after graduation.
NASH senior Jacob Mignella will be attending Robert Morris University to study cybersecurity next fall.
“I really like the campus and how close it is, and I know a lot of people who go there now, he said. “A lot of my friends are going next year, too.”
NASH senior Jack Bernstein will also be staying relatively close to home for his post-secondary education.
“When I visited Grove City’s campus for the first time, something just clicked and I knew this was the place for me,” he said.
For NASH senior EJ Walters, the next four years will be spent on the other side of the state on the campus of Temple University.
“I really like the big city atmosphere that Temple brings, with Philadelphia being in one of the biggest cities in America,” said Walters, who plans to study sports management.
Amiz Agambila will also attend a Pennsylvania state school in the fall. The NASH senior will be attending Penn State University and will major in accounting.
“I like how it is a bigger school with more opportunities,” Agambila said, “and I like the distance from home. It is far enough that I can be independent, but it is not too far away.”
For NASH senior Maya Champagne, affordability played a key role in the decision-making process.
“I was planning to go to CCAC after graduation, but I’m now working over 40 hours per week and have been moving up in management,” she said, “so I may take a gap year to save even more money.”
But for Quintin Gralia, a NASH senior who has also attended A.W. Beattie Career Center for the past three years, it will soon be time to make the transition into a lifelong career.
“After I graduate A.W. Beattie, I plan on continuing to work in the HVAC industry,” he said. “While working full time, I will take classes at CCAC to get general credits out of the way and then transfer to a university to study engineering.”
