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.

Like many high school seniors this time of year, Kaden Paulsen is counting down the days to graduation and looking ahead to the next chapter of his life. That journey will lead him to Hastings, where he plans to attend Central Community College next fall.

Paulsen said he chose Hastings CCC for a variety of reasons. “The campus isn’t huge, they have a good ag program and it’s not too far from home,” he said. “I also heard the food is good there - and they have Starbucks.”

Paulsen plans to enroll in a 2-year program where he will be studying agribusiness and taking additional business classes. CCC will give him the opportunity to complete his GenEds, while receiving an associate’s degree in the process.

Having always been an active student, Paulsen does not plan to slow down in those areas in his future academic pursuits. While at CCC he plans to participate in several intramural sports, including flag football, basketball, and golf. The campus also has a frisbee golf course and a gym that appeals to Paulsen.

Athletics are not the only area he plans to become involved at college. “There are also agriculture clubs I can join,” he said.

He will be residing on the campus at Hastings, though he doesn’t know yet which dorm he will be in or who his roommate will be.

Paulsen also plans to work while attending school. “There is a golf course on campus so I might work there in the early fall and spring,” he shared. “I will also look for jobs on campus.”

During his presentation to the student body, Paulsen shared the career opportunities that he would be qualified for once completing his degree. Those include agriculture loan officer, with an average salary of $67,652; and general farm and crop insurance agent, with an average salary of $43,169.

When sharing what factors led him to choose this educational and career path Paulsen replied, “I have grown up on a farm my whole life and I hope to one day take it over. I am also thinking about working for Country Partners or some other agriculture based company. I really like working with animals also, and I felt like I learned a lot of good life lessons working with my dad and grandpa.”

“Being in an agriculture based community and seeing all of the opportunities around also played a huge role in my decision,” he added.

While he said he is excited about intramural sports, Starbucks and meeting new people (girls), Paulsen also shared that there are a couple of things that make him a little nervous about the college transition. “Making new friends, running out of money, and being away from my mom’s cooking” are the specific issues he mentioned being anxious about.

Paulsen credits Callaway Public Schools with preparing him for his college future. “My teachers pushed me to try my best on assignments and to turn them in on time. Extracurricular activities also taught me a lot about time management.”

In a final comment, Paulsen had this advice for the underclassmen at Callaway High School: “Try new things, because you never know what you might like.”