Staff writer
For graduation week, Marion County Record interviewed 11 graduating students at or near the top of their class.
All students were asked the same questions. Answers have been edited for length and clarity.
This week, Goessel, Centre, and Hillsboro will hold their graduation ceremonies.
Students from those schools will be featured this week. Students from Marion-Florence and Peabody-Burns were featured last week.
How would you describe your high school experience?
Luke Isaac, Hillsboro: It’s been a lot of fun. I’ve been pretty involved with music, and Spirit-N-Celebration, Hillsboro’s select singing group.
Livie Claasen, Goessel: I’ve loved high school. I’ve made a lot of new friends. I’m not actually from Goessel; I’m from Newton. I went to Santa Fe [Middle School]. Coming to a small school has been a lot better of an experience for me.
Jack Nickel, Goessel: Made a lot of memories.
Koy Smith, Goessel: Exciting. Exciting to meet new people, make new friends, stuff like that.
Kaitlynn Bina, Centre: Average, relationship-wise. We’re a small school, so everyone knows everyone. Academically, I did really well. Extracurriculars, I was very involved. I was almost hyperactive.
Olivia Carlson, Centre: It was full of involvement. I was involved in all sorts of clubs.
What will be your favorite memory from your time in high school?
Luke — This last musical we had. I got to play Jesus in “Godspell,” which was the lead role.
Livie — Going to nationals with one of my best friends, Adriana Duerksen, for [Family, Career and Community Leaders of America competition].
Jack — Our big win on senior night for basketball [against Hartford].
Koy — Hanging out at the lunch table, telling jokes, making each other laugh.
Kaitlynn — We have tunnels underneath our school because we’re really old, and that’s where our pipes are. Years ago, they blocked off all the entrances to the tunnels, and no one knows where they are —except me. I’m the tunnel tour guide of the school. I take people down there and give them tours.
Olivia — Attending the FFA national convention. Also just playing volleyball and basketball and diving.
What do you think is unique about your school compared to other county schools?
Luke — A lot of our teachers are very involved — not just in school, but outside of it — coming to sporting events, sponsoring at church groups. There are a lot of trips over the summer.
Livie — Goessel has a lot of teachers who really care. That’s common with small schools, but every teacher knows what’s going on with every student. Most teachers are coaching as well.
Jack — We have a really good culture. We’re really inclusive of everybody compared to other schools, I’ve noticed. … Everyone has someone to talk to for the most part.
Koy — It’s pretty easy to get involved. We have kids help. Even if they don’t like playing sports, they can manage sports. We have music, a bunch of activities.
Kaitlynn — In hard times and good times, our administration, our staff, our students, our community — we’re always there for each other. … We’re six towns, unlike other schools which are just one, but it feels like there’s one big family.
Olivia — Centre is willing to accommodate the dreams and plans of the students. When I was a freshman, they didn’t have a diving program, but because I showed interest in it, they were able to add it.
What are your next steps in life?
Luke — I’m going to go to K-State and major in architecture, which is a five-year master’s program.
Livie — I’m going to K-State. I hope to major in criminology and psychology and then get a minor in business or financing, and then I hope to go on to become a prosecutor.
Jack — I’m planning to go to Tabor College for computer science. I haven’t decided [on a profession], but I’m hoping to narrow it down.
Koy — I plan to go to KU next year. After graduating, I hope to go to medical school — either pediatrics or some kind of surgeon.
Kaitlynn — In the fall, I will be attending Washburn University in Topeka. I plan on majoring in political science, and I’m already set up to minor in English and leadership studies. I don’t really have my specific career picked out, but the general area of attorney and lobbyist.
Olivia — I’m going to attend Emporia State University, for an undergraduate degree in health and human performance, and then after that I’d like to attend a physical therapy school.
Where would you like to live?
Luke — I’m really not sure on that one. Wherever I can get a job.
Livie — Anywhere outside of Kansas pretty much. Somewhere by a lake or a beach.
Jack — Not in a big town, but in a decent-sized town, like Newton or Hesston.
Koy — I’m pretty undecided. My grandparents live in Arizona, and I really like it down there.
Kaitlynn — I’m not coming back to Marion not because I don’t like it here — I mean, this place raised me — but I definitely want to get away, and I think I will reach my full potential outside of Kansas. … I really love the mountains, and I want to travel.
Olivia — I don’t know. I think I’ll stay in a small community.
Do you feel as if your school has pushed you to go into certain academic fields over others?
Luke — Not really. I’ve been able to do some [computer-assisted design] classes, some furniture-making classes. I think they do a pretty good job of letting people branch out a bit.
Livie — I don’t think so. They have a project management thing you do your junior year, and the teacher who runs that, Ms. Guhr, pretty much has contacts with every single person who has ever had a job anywhere. And they’ll help you find anything you want to do.
Jack — Whatever you want to do, they’ll help you get there.
Koy — I wouldn’t say that. I think Goessel does a good job of letting kids enjoy their own interests.
Kaitlynn — I was very into FFA.… Being a part of those competitions and activities definitely helped push me to want to be a lawyer. But I think a lot of it was that I realized my own gifts.
Olivia — The thing that really inspired my career was that I had a severe neck injury, and I had to attend physical therapy to heal from it. I would say Centre gave me a broad understanding of different jobs.
What have you liked about growing up in a small town?
Luke — Getting to be involved in all the different activities, on different levels.
Livie — Because I’m from a different area, 20 minutes away, I’m very envious that all my friends can walk to each others’ houses.
Jack — I like that it’s quiet. You can go outside and not really worry about anything bad happening.
Koy — At any kind of community event, it’s nice to know everyone around you, and everyone cares about your success.
Kaitlynn — I grew up in Pilsen. … It’s cool, because that’s where my family has been since Pilsen started, and that’s where a lot of surrounding families have been, so there’s just this intimate relationship that we have with each other because our families go so far back.
Olivia — Being able to participate in everything.
What have you disliked about growing up in a small town?
Luke — I’ve always liked the idea of big cities, being surrounded by lots of different buildings and cultures. That’s not really something I’ve gotten to experience.
Livie — You’re closer to a Walmart [in Newton].
Jack — At least in school, we have a fewer class options. We don’t have fast food, which would be nice.
Koy — There are some sports I would have liked to play if our school had that option. … And how everybody knows everybody, that isn’t always a good thing.
Kaitlynn — Rural Kansas is very comfortable. That’s the word I’d use. And I’m not a big fan of being comfortable. I want to be pushed. I don’t feel as though I’ve been fully allowed to flourish and blossom, which is kind of why I want to get away for a while.
Olivia — I don’t think there is anything.
What was your favorite class?
Luke — Mass production, where we designed certain projects and built them throughout the year.
Livie — I really enjoyed English.
Jack — All the math classes. Probably geometry. Not a lot of people like it, but I do.
Koy — Probably chemistry. I really liked that one, and I’m planning to major in chemistry in college now.
Kaitlynn — I really enjoyed government classes. I really enjoyed English. Wood shop was pretty fun.
Olivia — My science classes with Mr. Duerksen.
Who were your favorite faculty members?
Luke — Ms. Kaufman, our AV teacher. She’s a lot of fun to be around and lets us have a lot of creative freedom.
Livie — Ms. Guhr and Ms. Hiebert.
Jack — My math teacher, Mr. Lightner, and my English teacher, Ms. Guhr. They’ve done a good job of really pushing us to be better and to learn.
Koy — I’ve grown really close with our English teacher, Ms. Guhr. She helps me a whole lot with not only school but college applications, scholarship applications. And I’ve known her since I was a kid.
Kaitlynn — My agricultural teacher, Jon Meyer, and my track coach, Alan Stahlecker.
Olivia — Mr. Vinduska, Ms. Minnehan, and I’ll say Ms. Basore.