For decades, the expectations for the majority of students at Libertyville High School have been clear: go to college and major in a stable field to guarantee a successful career. But today’s seniors are beginning to question that formula, and in many cases, are paving their own way forward. Whether it’s pursuing highly specialize fields, designing interdisciplinary majors or taking time to gain real-world experience, students are redefining what college can look like. Instead of following a well-worn path, they are carving new routes to fulfilling their passions shaped by lifelong interests, long-term goals and an ever-changing job market.
Joey Kim: Physics & Euphonium Performance
Choosing to double major is not unheard of, especially at a school full of ambitious students like Northwestern University. However, senior Joey Kim has decided to focus on two entirely different fields in college: physics and euphonium performance. Both music and STEM have been key areas of interest during Kim’s time at LHS, where he has excelled in both the band program with serious rigor in math and science courses.
“I didn’t want to give either [music or STEM] up, so I just decided to double major to continue pursuing them both,” Kim said.
Kim is also interested in quite contrasting career paths in either one of his areas of focus.
“Ideally, I’ll pursue the music route and get a professional playing job,” Kim said. “[Or] I’ll probably end up moving away from physics and use that degree to pursue further education in meteorology and weather forecasting.”
While taking on two majors at once can be challenging, it is still an achievable way to fulfill multiple passions while in college and beyond, opening the door to a versatile future.
Sophia Jackman: Gap Semester & Disability Advocacy
While many students are driven to focus on a field based on social or societal pressures, senior Sophia Jackman is driven to make a difference in the field of disability advocacy. Her interest in disability awareness is driven by her own experiences with mild Cerebral Palsy, a group of movement disorders that affect a person’s ability to move and maintain balance, as stated by the Cerebral Palsy Foundation. She has already begun to raise awareness for Cerebral Palsy through her Instagram account, @skye_fullofstories, which she started in Sep. of 2025.
“I started an Instagram account where I can spread Cerebral Palsy awareness and advocacy work, [and] share my journey and some of the accomplishments I’ve had,” Jackman said.
Her social media presence is only one of many things that Jackman plans to continue developing during her gap semester. She is also planning to travel and decompress before beginning college in the spring of 2027 at Elon University, majoring in interdisciplinary studies with a focus on disability advocacy.
“I learned about being able to do an individualized major, and that sounded really cool to me,” Jackman said. “[Disability advocacy] is not a major that already exists [at Elon], so I’m able to kind of create my own major.”
While turning multiple traditional disciplines into one, a tailored major can be a complicated process, Jackman believes that the path is worthwhile and attainable for anyone who may be looking to combine multiple subjects.
“Just believe in yourself and just be very determined and don’t give up because it might be more challenging to create your own major,” Jackman said.
After high school, Jackman is interested in starting a non-profit organization and continuing her work to raise awareness for those with physical or mental disabilities through hosting workshops, teaching life skills and simply sharing her story.
“I look forward to being done with high school and just being able to get on with my life,” Jackman said. “I’m excited to see what I’m going to be able to accomplish.”
Luke Bucciero: Aviation
For senior Luke Bucciero, choosing a path beyond high school wasn’t about practicality; it was about pursuing an interest he had been drawn to for years. What began as a childhood interest in all things airplanes has turned real, as Bucciero plans to major in aviation at Auburn University in the fall.
“I liked airplanes for a very long time and found out I could start learning how to fly them at a relatively young age,” Bucciero said. “And my parents wanted me to get a college degree in something, so I figured, might as well make it something I like.”
But pursuing that passion comes with real challenges. Flight programs are notoriously selective and rigorous, in part due to the limited and expensive resources schools provide to their students. Bucciero compared aviation to programs like nursing that feature real-world work with real-world tools.
“There’s a lot of relatively expensive equipment that you’ll have to deal with, so flight spots are usually pretty limited, and it’s a lot more competitive,” Bucciero said.
For Bucciero, however, success in aviation isn’t about skill; it’s about connections and getting to know the right people in the right places in order to land a good job in the industry.
“Networking is where you can build those connections,” Bucciero said. “And starting early, just going up to random people and talking to them, handing out flyers or asking for an internship is how you can build a lot of connections that get you places.”
Bucciero also plans to take classes on aviation business management as another path into the aviation sector. Even with many challenges ahead, Bucciero is looking forward to the opportunities that come with stepping into a brand new environment.
“I’m excited to go somewhere that’s pretty different from here,” Bucciero said. “Getting to know people and starting networking.”
Conclusion
As students like Kim, Jackman and Bucciero prepare to leave LHS, their future plans highlight a growing trend in redefining the path after graduation. Rather than following a traditional one-size-fits-all route, students are exploring options that align with their own interests. This reflects a much wider shift in how we define success, as flexibility and fulfillment are valued by students over stability. From combining many passions to creating an individualized major to specializing in a unique field, each of these students is entering college with goals shaped by life-long interests and passions. In doing so, they’re not just trying to be different. They’re paving their own paths forward in pursuit of what matters most to them.
