As graduation approaches, many seniors are preparing to take the next step toward their futures. For seniors Miguel Tello and Aryanna Vargas, those plans involve pursuing careers connected to both their passions and personal experiences. While their paths are different, both students have spent their high school years building skills and discovering what motivates them most.
Miguel Tello plans to attend Columbia Basin College after graduation, where he hopes to earn a two-year degree in welding. Tello said his preparation for this path began during high school through metal shop classes, which helped him gain both experience and confidence.
“I prepared for it by taking metal shop classes here at the high school and applying for college with that knowledge and mindset,” Tello said.
According to Tello, his interest in welding was heavily influenced by his upbringing and the example set by his father. Growing up surrounded by hard work and dedication inspired him to pursue a hands-on career in the workforce.
“The reason I chose this career path is because of my dad,” Tello said. “All I’ve ever been surrounded by is hard work and dedication.”
Although welding became his career focus, music played a major role throughout his high school experience. Tello participated in band for three years, mariachi for all four years of high school, and jazz band during his senior year. He described music as one of the most uplifting parts of his time in school.
“Mariachi gave me an opportunity to show my creativity and culture through music that has existed since our great-great-great-great grandparents,” Tello said. “Jazz was different for me because it gave me the opportunity to experiment with improvisation and how to not only read music, but feel it through the soul.”
Like Tello, senior Aryanna Vargas also plans to attend Columbia Basin College after graduation. Vargas intends to spend two years studying business and film, combining practical career goals with her passion for storytelling and creativity.
“I chose this path because it secures me financially and I’m still able to do something I love,” Vargas said.
During high school, Vargas prepared for her future by participating in programs such as DECA and drama, both of which helped her develop communication, leadership, and creative skills. Her passion for film, however, began long before high school.
“As a child I loved watching films and reading stories so much,” Vargas said. “It was one of the only things my father and I bonded over.”
Although she and her father eventually lost touch, Vargas said her passion for storytelling never disappeared. Instead, it became something that continued to inspire her creativity and future goals.
“I never lost my passion on creating my own stories or acting in them,” Vargas said. “With film, it’s something that comes back to me every day that makes my passion grow more.”
As the Class of 2026 prepares to graduate, students like Tello and Vargas demonstrate how high school experiences, family influences, and personal passions can shape the paths students choose to follow after graduation.
