Early grads plan travel, work for second semester

By Larissa Marceau

As the second semester ap-proaches and seniors pre-pare for their final days at FHS, early graduate students are preparing for a break from school which will range from a Mexican vacation, to a trip to the Marine Corps. basic training.

“I really want to go to Mardi Gras,” said senior Jessica Woods. “I have two friends that live in Missouri and they are going to go.”

For Tiffany Thompson, a two-month trip to Mexico will fill much of her time. While she is there, Thompson hopes to go see Aztec ruins and to go caving.

“I’m really excited about everything,” said Thompson. “It’s going to be a big change, though. When I get back I’m not going to have to go to school for awhile, and that’s (school) what I have always done.”

Josh Brinton, Garret Smith and Ian Baker, on the other hand, will have a more structured life. They have decided to try the military and feel that an early graduation will give them more time to complete the necessary training.

“I knew I wanted to be in the Marine Corps,” said Baker. “So I decided to graduate early after I signed up.”

Huong Trinh, another student who intends to graduate early, will help at the family business, Charlie Wongs. Trinh will attend college at FVCC so she can remain in Kalispell.

“It’s pretty much a family business,” said Trinh. “If I graduate early like my parents want it gives me a chance to be close to my family for a little longer.”

Early graduating students will have a lot of free time, which could make it harder to get back into school if they go to college. However, most who have chosen to graduate early aren’t too concerned.

“College will be very different than high school,” said Angie Wagner, who hopes to attend Berkley. “I’ll start college in the fall and I don’t think I’ll have trouble getting back into school.”