Editor’s Note: Each CHS senior is doing a career presentation, in which they share their future plans and life goals - a requirement for the Senior College Prep class. The seniors then give the presentation to the entire student body. We want to spotlight our CHS seniors by sharing their future plans with you.

While Callaway senior Lauryn Johnson is excited thinking about her future, she also admits that she is very close to her family. The only daughter of Heath and Linsey Johnson, Lauryn has two brothers, Harper and Spencer, who look out for her. She also has two dogs.

Lauryn is part of a pilot program at Callaway Public School that allows seniors to work in the classroom with elementary students in a semi-paraprofessional capacity. Each day, Lauryn assists the teachers: on Monday it’s Mrs. Jesseph, Tuesday is 4th grade with Mrs. Rush, Wednesday 1st grade with Mrs. Myers, Thursday 3rd grade with Mrs. Brogan, and on Fridays she is back in Mrs. Rush’s 4th grade room.

“At the beginning of the year I had no idea what I wanted to do and I had an open period, so I thought it would be a good way to make money and get experience in a field,” Lauryn explained. “Now that I have been doing this every day, I have found out that I like to help younger students.”

In her para role, Lauryn reads with the students, checks papers, helps them with group work, makes copies for the teachers and reads tests to the students. She shared that this experience is teaching her skills such as patience, adaptability, listening and communication, that she can transfer into every area of her future.

“I can see myself being a teacher, but I am just not sure,” said Lauryn. “I would want to teach younger elementary if I did decide to go into education.”

Lauryn plans to attend the University of Nebraska-Kearney, but said she has not yet settled on a major. “I am considering something along the lines of ag business, or maybe teaching lower elementary or the medical field as maybe an x-ray tech,” she explained. “I will have to start by taking my generals and I will also take some exploratory classes to help me choose.”

She has narrowed down her career options to those three based on her likes and life experiences. “I have been around agriculture all my life, and the teaching option came up because of the paraprofessional opportunity I had this year.” As for the x-ray technician, Lauryn explained, “I like to help people, but I do not like blood.”

Lauryn said that she feels her time at Callaway Public School has prepared her for college life, which has helped by having already taken some college-level courses that she will now not have to take her freshman year. “I have been active in high school which has taught me how to balance my time,” she added.

Though she is still unsure of the career field she will enter, Lauryn said she does see herself returning to the area where she grew up after completing her education. As for advice to the underclassmen, Lauryn shared, “Try new things; be active; don’t stress too much; and remember, it’s okay to not know what you want to do…I think.”