8 minute read
and the Impacts of COVID
sort of dream job or anything like that. I want to go to school and study art which is something I’m very passionate about, and after that I’m not sure what I want to do. There are so many available options and as a high school student I don’t think I should tie myself down to a single occupation.
Jacob Edgar Cook 11th grade, Cloudcroft High School Cloudcroft in Otero County Otero County Electric Cooperative
I’ve been playing a lot of video games in my spare time. I’m also trying to stay active, which is important in quarantine. I’ve been staying active by taking hikes on trails around town while practicing adequate social distancing. In addition, I have a workout setup at home that I use for weights. I want to go into game design. Making content that people look back on after years is something that has always appealed to me.
Julie Maestas 11th grade, Escalante High School Chama in Rio Arriba County Northern Rio Arriba Electric Cooperative
During quarantine, I have been moving. I plan to graduate next year and attend college in California. This is as far as I have planned for my future. I would like to go into physical therapy and chiropractics so I will be able to open a gym one day.
JW Necaise 11th grade, Artesia High School Hagerman in Chaves County Central Valley Electric Cooperative
Most people were staying home, but I had very little “quarantine” as I was and still am working most of the time as my job is in agriculture; and therefore considered essential. I work on a ranch outside of Hope when needed and also work at the feed store owned by the same family in Artesia. I do fence work, and basically, anything else that needs to be done. My plans after high school are to join the military and then go to college at Northern Arizona University. I am planning on either joining the Army right out of high school, or I will join the National Guard and go to college, then go to the Army when I graduate.
Kayden Pinson 11th grade, Artesia High School Artesia in Eddy County Central Valley Electric Cooperative
I have mostly been working. I work at Walmart as an Online Grocery Associate. I plan to attend Texas Tech University so that I can attend med school and become an anesthesiologist. I’ve been surrounded by people that have helped me all my life, so I feel the need to help others! Becoming an anesthesiologist is a great way to accomplish my goal!
Kimber Perkins 11th grade, Estancia High School Stanley in Santa Fe County Central New Mexico Electric Cooperative
I have been working on the ranch and farm. My future plans are to go back to school and later attend college.
Kirshawna Kristi Cohoe 11th grade, Quemado High School Pinehill in Cibola County Continental Divide Electric Cooperative
I have been enjoying the company of my baby nephew. My plan is to finish high school and to go to college in a community college and work my way up.
Koen Ethan Overberger 11th grade, Roy Municipal Schools A cattle ranch outside of Roy in Harding County Springer Electric Cooperative
Besides school, I spent a lot of time working on the ranch and branding for neighbors around the area. I also got to fish on a few occasions, which is my favorite hobby and now have started to learn how to fly fish. I’ve also been helping fight fires around the area as a volunteer firefighter. I sure have missed occasionally eating out at my favorite restaurants, and a haircut is past overdue. These small things that I have taken for granted are missed for sure now. I am not certain what
field of study I will pursue in the future, but I will be attending NMSU. I may consider Doña Ana Community College depending on the field of study. Possible careers that are interesting for me is nursing or similar medical field careers. I’m also considering linemen school or wind energy fields of study. There are so many opportunities after high school, and I look forward to starting new challenges, reaching and setting new goals, and experiencing a good life.
Luz Emilia Vargas 11th grade, Quemado High School Quemado in Catron County Socorro Electric Cooperative
Since quarantine, I have been doing all that I can to keep busy. I’ve worked a little here and there. For my Natural Helpers group we did a project for our seniors and put a message on our school fence for the community. I’ve also spent a lot of time with family. My plans for the future are to go to college for cosmetology and child development, and get my associate’s degree. My dream for the future would be to own my own business for cosmetology.
Madison Bleyenberg 11th grade, Tatum High School Tatum in Lea County Lea County Electric Cooperative
While in quarantine, I have been focusing more on creating art. I have always loved to draw, and it gives me something constructive to do now that my classes are over and I have more free time. Determining my future at such a young age scares me at times, and I do not have my life planned out for me, but I do know the direction I want to go in. I have been told that I am good at teaching, so no matter what I choose to do, I want to help people learn and guide them towards improvement.
Nathan Brown 11th grade, Hot Springs High School Truth or Consequences in Sierra County Sierra Electric Cooperative
During quarantine, I have been working. After completing my online school classes, I immediately launched into a full-time job in maintenance and fabrication. Immediately after high school, I plan on going on a two-year mission for my church. When I return I will pursue a career in a STEM field while raising and caring for a family of my own.
Nicole Puderbaugh 11th grade, Grants High School Grants in Cibola County Continental Divide Electric Cooperative
I have been reading a lot during this quarantine and spending more time with family. For the future, I hope to go to college and graduate with my nursing degree and hopefully be able to work in a children’s hospital after schooling.
Presley Sullivan 11th grade, Centennial High School Monticello in Sierra County Sierra Electric Cooperative
While in quarantine, I have been working hard on my ranch doing various jobs such as irrigating, putting up a deer fence and more. When I’m not doing that, I’m doing schoolwork and preparing for my AP tests. After I graduate, I wish to attend college and wish to pursue a career in electrical engineering or law.
Riley Rohrbach 11th grade, Texico High School Texico in Curry County Farmers’ Electric Cooperative
I have been playing lots of games with my family, playing volleyball and basketball in the yard, and looking into colleges to help the application process in the coming year. I have been involved in sports my entire life, which has also led to multiple injuries. Between my own injuries and my family’s injuries, I have watched several physical therapists. I realized that I was really interested in it, and I knew I wanted to pursue a career where I could help others. I plan to attend a university to pursue a degree in kinesiology and earn a doctorate in physical therapy. I hope to use my degree to help people better their lives.
Riley Truex 11th grade, Cloudcroft High School Cloudcroft in Otero County Otero County Electric Cooperative
Other than working on school, I have been working (my place of employment was considered essential, and we were able to remain open the whole time) and running. I have had more time to exercise, which I appreciate. I have also been able to work more, which has granted me the opportunity to save up for college. As of right now, I plan to get my degree in journalism from an online university. I am planning on getting my optometrist technician certification simultaneously in order that I am qualified in two separate fields. One day, later on in life, I want to open my own bakery and specialize in decorating of some form (cakes, cupcakes, etc.).
Rio Sessions 10th grade, Socorro High School Socorro in Socorro County Socorro Electric Cooperative
Quarantine has freed up a lot of time for me that I normally partition for extracurricular activities, so I wasn’t all that sure what to do with the time in the beginning. I have been utilizing this time to develop skills that I use very often (such as coding and writing), working on the activities that I miss (for example, I have been preparing for next year’s Science Olympiad season), and overall using this time to help out and spend time with family. In the future, I plan to go to New Mexico Tech and major in the fields of computer science and physics (at least until I figure out what interests me most). From there, my future is a mystery, and I am leaving it open, seeing as I haven’t really figured out what I even want to learn in the next step of my life. The only thing that I have determined so far is that I would like to devote myself to being a lifelong learner.
Sarah Chaparro Senior, Clayton High School Clayton in Union County Southwestern Electric Cooperative
I have been blessed to have always lived on a ranch so during quarantine, I have been able to work a lot more with my animals at home. I have been riding nearly every day since quarantine has begun and enjoying the peace and quiet from living out in the country. My plans for the future are to attend Western Texas Community College and receive my associate degree in welding. I plan to further my education and receive my bachelor’s degree in welding from a school that is to be decided. I plan on becoming a welding inspector.
Shanay E. Casados 12th grade, Mora High School Mora in Mora County Mora-San Miguel Electric Cooperative
Throughout quarantine, I have been bettering myself and working on softball. I plan to obtain a degree in dermatology. I will be attending Luna Community College in the fall and will eventually transfer to the University of New Mexico.
