With graduation coming up this weekend for the class of 2017, it’s an exciting time to check in with a few seniors to find out what their plans are for next year.

You all might remember where you were at this time a year ago; excited or nervous for the unknown of post graduate life, or just thrilled to finally be done with exams.

To add some perspective to your own experience, I thought it could be helpful to take a look at what these seniors are going to do during their first year out.

What are your plans for next year?

I will be moving to South Africa for the Peace Corps, where I will be living in a rural community and working in a primary school.

How did you arrive at this decision?

I’ve wanted to join the Peace Corps since high school. I knew that I wanted to travel or do something unconventional after graduating UVM so I decided to go into the Peace Corps!

What are you excited about regarding those plans?

I am really excited to gain a new perspective, and have a global experience right out of college. I think experiencing a new culture and way of life, while working with children, will be really powerful learning experience. I am excited to see how this new experience changes my perspective on education and the way I work with children. I’m excited to gain new understandings of how other cultures and children value education, and how I can bring in new motivation into my future classroom.

What are you nervous about?

Although I can’t wait to move abroad, I’m nervous for what I’m leaving behind. I love change, and moving around, however I’m sad to leave my friends and family for two years. I think a lot can happen in our lives as we enter the “real world”, and I wish I could be experiencing this transition with my friends.

What will you miss most about UVM?

I think I will miss the friendships that I’ve made at UVM the most. Because I am moving to a new country, I’m unsure of the next time I will see my friends, which is quite sad and a bit surreal. I also feel so privileged to have gone to school in a state as beautiful as Vermont. I will definitely miss hiking in the Green Mountains.

What are your plans for next year?

I am hoping to get a job working in a brewery in the Midwest, and I am thinking of going to brewing school in the spring.

How did you arrive at this decision?

I became interested in brewing through my minor in microbiology, particularly after working with yeast in the lab. I started brewing at home and took the brewing in food sciences class which helped me learn more about it.

What are you excited about regarding those plans?

I am hoping to one day open my own brewery in Chicago or Milwaukee and am looking forward to getting experience working in brewing the next few years.

What are you nervous about?

Getting a good job mainly, and deciding if brewing school is the right choice.

What will you miss most about UVM?

My friends, and the scenery. The mountains are a lot better than the flatness of the Midwest.

What are your plans for next year?

I am moving to San Francisco to work at Accenture as an analyst, job details are to be determined.

How did you arrive at this decision?

I interned at Accenture the summer after my junior year and really liked the work. At the end of the summer I was offered a full time job and requested to be located in the San Francisco office despite having interned in my hometown of Philadelphia (I was feeling adventurous that day)! Much to my surprise I was offered a spot in the San Francisco office and decided to take it! It is kind of a big leap but I have always wanted to know what life is like out west and there is no time like the present!

What are you excited about regarding those plans?

I am really excited to see what the West Coast is all about. I am specifically looking forward to the moderate climate, the chill vibes, and the access I will have to so many of the country’s national parks and natural attractions!

What are you nervous about?

I am nervous about being far from home and moving to a city where I don’t know anyone!

What will you miss most about UVM?

I know I will miss Burlington and the sense of community I feel here as well as the flexible life style of a college student! It is still TBD if I will miss experiencing all four seasons (specifically winter)!

What are your plans for next year?

I plan to attend Millersville University in central Pennsylvania to get my Masters degree in Social Work. My hope is to intern at the VA during that time.

How did you arrive at this decision?

I went back and forth for a long time trying to decide if I wanted to go into the field straight away, take a gap year before graduate school, attend seminary, or go straight back to school. Eventually I decided that going to graduate school right away made the most sense for me financially.

What are you excited about regarding those plans?

I’m most excited about the opportunity to work in the field of my home community. I think I’ve grown and changed a lot through my four years at UVM, so it’ll be interesting to take all that back to where I grew up.

What are you nervous about?

I’m most nervous to find real community again. UVM has provided me with so much structure and support, that it feels impossible that I’ll have that again.

What will you miss most about UVM?

I’ll miss the culture of UVM for sure. It’s an incredible place and the people really make it.

What are your plans for next year?

Home to Maine for the summer and then going to grad school – Master of Medical Science Degree Program at UVM

How did you arrive at this decision?

Lots and lots of thinking. Decided I want to stay in Vermont and continue learning new things.

What are you excited about regarding those plans?

I’m excited to meet new people and stay in Vermont another year.

What are you nervous about?

Taking rigorous courses and finding a good place to live next year.

What will you miss most about UVM?

The interesting people.

What are your plans for next year?

Stay in Burlington for the summer doing part time graphic design projects and working as a hostess.  Then save up money and apply to programs to either Wwoof in New Zealand or teach English abroad in Russia.

How did you arrive at this decision?

I knew I wanted to hang out in Burlington for at least a bit post-grad, so when this graphic design position was offered to me as a summer gig, I jumped at the opportunity.  I am half Russian and have a deep desire to travel around before settling down so that’s where the Wwoofing and English teaching ideas came from.

What are you excited about regarding those plans?

Very excited to spend another summer in Burlington and see more of the world!

What are you nervous about?

Actually being financially stable enough to pull off my plans (..ha)

What will you miss most about UVM?

I will really miss the sense of community and security from all the connections I’ve forged here over the years.  I will also miss the reckless abandon that being a college student enables me to have.

What are your plans for next year? 

I chose very early on in the year I wanted to stay in Burlington, before I had a job lined up. There’s just something special about this town and I don’t feel ready to part with it quite yet. And I will be working at a local shop part time but I’m still keeping my options open!

How did you arrive at this decision? 

I think the great thing about Burlington is that even though it is a small town, there’s always something going on and something to do, particularly in the live music scene. I also think it’s a great stepping stone, for me at least, to ease into the real world. I already know my way around and a lot of my friends are sticking around for the next year too.

What are you excited about regarding those plans?

I’m excited to start my new job and learn more about local Vermont artists and just meeting new people too. I’m also looking forward to staying here over the summer, living with my current roommate Niky.

What are you nervous about?

I’m nervous about a lot of things, but right now I’m worried about tripping on stage when I go to collect my diploma.

What will you miss most about UVM? 

From the day I came to UVM for admitted students day, I immediately felt so welcomed into this community, and that’s exactly how I felt with so many of the professors here. I am so grateful to have had professors that have truly inspired me academically and in general and those who I have formed good relationships with. They have been a huge part of my happiness during my time here. That and also just constantly being surrounded by so many positive and genuine people.