To get the sophomore students thinking about college and their future, the school decided to take them to different college campuses to get a glimpse of what college life is like. On Feb. 11,  the Sophomore Class was split into three groups, which determined which college campus they would visit. The groups traveled to Geneva College, Robert Morris University, and New Castle School of Trades. Each group had an assigned time to leave, where they would then go to the college, walk around campus, eat at the dining hall, and speak to different teachers. This is the first year since the lockdown in 2020 that sophomores have taken the trip, which has brought much excitement to both students and staff. The importance of this trip is what drove the administration to restart it. Having an idea of what one would like to do after high school, whether it’s college, a trade or going straight into work, is very important. While it is difficult for some to set their mind on a career, thinking about it earlier and exploring different options takes so much stress off students’ shoulders.

“Going on this trip was so cool, I liked getting to see what a real college campus was like, and it made me realize that I need to start to think about college,” Anabella Daniele (10) said.

The college trip opened many students’ eyes to the next few years of their lives, which excites them, yet is always a bit scary and confusing. Trying to decide which career path to follow for the rest of your life is something that takes a lot of time and exploration. Setting up trips, such as this one, aids in the process. There are certain expectations each person has for their after-school experience, such as schools that specialize in their desired field of study or a specific campus. So many things factor into which school you choose and why, which is exactly why touring colleges and universities is so important in high school.

Teachers prioritize trips such as this one to push their students to prepare for their futures after high school. Along with getting students used to college campuses, teachers strive to get them used to college courses. At Freedom, there are many college courses offered, which can count as college credits depending on which college you attend. Some of the courses offered are CHS Chemistry, CHS Psychology, and CHS U.S. History II. These classes are set to the college standard and are unlike normal high school courses to prepare students for what college has to offer. Overall, the trip was very beneficial in getting the sophomore class thinking about their after-school plans, along with what they want to do in the rest of their high school career.