The Path Less Traveled

Nikki Swoish heard the news, issued a smile, and then exhaled.

Swoish graduated in 2014, just over a year ago.

But there was a stark difference between the 2014 and 2015 graduation ceremonies.

Students’ college destinations were not announced in 2015.

“That’s so great to hear. Kids used to be so stressed about that. I was one of those kids.”

Swoish, who is heading into her sophomore year at USC, found her path to a four-year university with one extra small step, a step that many kids and parents are hesitant to take.

But in Swoish’s case, it turned out to be one of the best decisions she and her family ever made.

While at Orange Lutheran, Swoish found success as an AP student, president of Ignite, a member of Missions and performing arts, and in track. So when it was time to pick a university, she had options.

However, because of her many interests and talents, and because of her options in terms of schools, Swoish was conflicted about where to go and what to pursue.

“I applied to a bunch of schools and I just wasn’t sure where I wanted to go. I got a letter back from USC that I was accepted into the business school, but only for spring. Initially, I wanted to go to college right away.”

Ultimately, Swoish decided that USC was the best choice for her, but in order to get there, she’d have to take the path less traveled…she’d have to go to junior college first.

Swoish spent a semester at Santiago Canyon College, completing some general education courses and in turn, saving money.

Nikki Swoish '14

Swoish will admit that at the time, with the success she found at OLu in academics, athletics and extracurricular activities, she didn’t plan on telling many people that she would be attending junior college, especially not at graduation.

But in retrospect, Swoish wishes she would have known then what she knows now.

“You have to do what’s right for you,” she said. “You can’t focus on what other people think of you. For a lot of people, junior college is what they need. It helps the transition to college.

“Today, I would tell kids to not stress about it. For me, I was embarrassed. I got into Duke and I could have gone. I was always that kid that wanted to go to the best school. But in junior college, you get to do what works for you. And it worked out for me financially.”

Swoish said that her time at OLu not only strengthened her faith, but strengthened her resolve, as she prepared to deal with the rigors of college and the real world.

“Going to OLu, my faith was right there every day,” Swoish said. “You’re around a community of believers. It was so easy. In college, people believe different things. So I really had to take my faith into my own hands this year. There is no chapel in college. So you have to be responsible for your faith in a lot of instances.

“It’s important to soak it in at OLu. Things like chapel, that’s really a blessing.”

Swoish is currently a member of the OLu Young Alumni Council, continuing her reputation of being involved at her high school. She is studying business administration at USC and is a member of the USC Helenes, a group similar to the OLu Ambassadors.

“OLu teaches you to be involved,” Swoish said. “It’s really encouraged. I was friends with kids in choir and kids who played football, and I created relationships that way. That made me want to get more involved. You meet different people in every area at OLu.”

This year, Swoish plans to audition for an acapella singing group, as well as try her hand at running track. She also will look into picking up a minor at the USC School of Cinematic Arts.

It seems as if the path less traveled has still delivered Swoish to her rightful destination.