Skylar Ellison is a member of the 2024 class of Callaway High School and will be taking the stage to receive her diploma this weekend. She shared a little about herself and her goals with her peers during her senior presentation.

Skylar has “three biological older sisters and two bonus siblings.” While having fun is a big part of her life, she also has some serious plans for her future which include attending the University of Nebraska- Lincoln this fall.

“I have always wanted to go to UNL just because it is the peak of Husker Nation,” Ellison explained.

She will be majoring in psychology at UNL and said it will take around five years to achieve her ultimate goal of becoming a mental health counselor. Classes she will have to take to earn her degree include: professional counseling orientation and professional practice; social and cultural diversity; human growth and development; career development; counseling and helping relationships; group counseling and group work; and assessment and testing.

“I plan to have a job, so I probably won’t be involved in many activities on campus,” Ellison shared. “I will live in the dorms for my first year, but I do not have a roommate currently.”

Ellison said she will work toward obtaining her master’s degree which will allow her several career options such as a counselor or clinical psychologist, school psychologist, forensic psychologist, social worker, human resources manager, and family therapist, among others.

In that career, she will be responsible for developing individualized treatment plans, diagnosing and treating mental health disorders, and monitoring progress and outcomes for clients. She will also facilitate individual and group therapy sessions and perform crisis interventions.

When sharing some of the factors that led her to choose this career, Ellison shared, “I have always loved to help people. Many people struggle with mental health.”

Ellison said her time at Callaway Public School has helped prepare her for her college years and life beyond. “CPS has always been an encouraging place to learn and grow. The staff is very welcoming; all have warm hearts and a deep love for educating the world's future. I have had to meet hard deadlines, and my teachers have challenged and pushed me so far that I am truly prepared for college.”

The move to Nebraska’s capital city will be a big transition from her small-town roots, a change that has her both excited and nervous at the same time. “I am most excited about living in a bigger city. I am most nervous about not having free time or time alone.”

She also offers this advice to her peers and underclassmen: “Get involved in extracurriculars - that's where you will make the best connections.”

SENIOR SPOTLIGHTS cont. Page 6 Joey Sallach is a member of the Callaway High School Class of 2024. He recently gave his senior presentation to his peers sharing a little about himself and his goals for the future.

Joey is the son of Kim and Shane Sallach and brother to Jessie and Sydnee. He also mentioned his two dogs, Ginger and Sunny. He enjoys hunting, fishing, and spending time with friends and family.

This year Joey has been the teacher’s aid (TA) for 5th grade, which he said he chose partly because his mom teaches that class and he knew she could use the help. “I wasn’t interested in being in a class with the little, little kids, and 5th grade just felt like a good class and a good fit for me,” he added.

His capstone project as 5th grade TA was to copy every lesson and unit of the math book and organize them into a file so the teacher wouldn’t have to make any math copies next year. He also helps grade papers.

Joey said he believes he acquired several transferable skills during his time as TA. Those include organization, patience, and problem-solving. “I realized that being organized is very helpful and makes it a lot easier on yourself. I learned some patience because sometimes the 5th graders can get a little out of hand and wild,” he said. When asked if he was considering a career as a teacher his response was adamant: “Absolutely not! I don’t think I have enough patience to teach and being a teacher does not sound like fun.” This fall Joey will be attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he will major in agribusiness. Some of the classes he will be taking toward earning his degree include business statistics, farm and ranch management, marketing, and accounting. “I made this career choice because I grew up around my grandparents’ farm and have always been fascinated with tractors. I just like the concept of farming,” Joey explained. While attending UNL he also plans to become involved in as many intramural activities as the university offers. Some of those he is interested in are pickleball, basketball, flag football, and ping pong. Joey said he is grateful for his time at Callaway High School and the support he has received toward his future goals. “CPS prepared me for my future by allowing me to take the classes that will help me with my future career.”

His hope is to return to his grandparents’ farm and work after he completes his college education. As for his advice to his peers Joey shared: “Be involved in as much as you can because once it’s over you will wish that you had done more.”