06.16.2020

2020 Treehouse Grads: Where Do You See Yourself in 10 Years?

By Desiree Lindsay, Marketing & Communications Intern

We asked our 2020 graduates two questions as they make plans for life beyond high school: Why is graduating important to you? And where do you see yourself in 10 years? Here are the responses from 39 youth.

Congratulations to all of our students who finished high school because it had meaning for them and their ongoing plans!

Alex, Henry Foss High School: “Graduating is important to me because I need it to have a better education to have a better life. In ten years, I see myself working at an entertainment studio with the cast and crew members.”  

Alexis, Mount Tahoma High School: “Graduating is important to me because I’ll be the first in my biological family to be graduating from high school. In ten years, I see myself working alongside other foster youth helping them reach their goals.”  

Alisa, New Horizons High School: “I find graduating really important to me because I’ll be the first one out of my family not only that I find it really something to be proud of and something big. In ten years, I see myself doing nursing. Really wanted to do that. Well, I’m hoping I get to do it with all that’s going on. I really been inspired by so many people in my family to do nursing, which I’m really excited about.”

Alisa, North Central High School: “Graduating is important to me because it’s easier to get a job if you have your diploma. And in ten years I see myself as a construction worker probably whippin’ it on my excavator, you know, having fun.”  

Allizha, GED at Tacoma Community College: “Getting my GED is important to me because it’s beneficial for my career goals and to pursue more knowledge.”  

Alyssa, Lincoln High School: “Graduating for me is important because it’s the first step of me becoming successful later on in life. In ten years, I see myself as a medical examiner working at Washington State.”  

Bailey, Rogers High School: “Graduating was important to me because it’s going to give me this opportunity to excel in every way that I want to in life and achieve anything I need to. As long as I graduate high school, I can do anything. In ten years, I see myself as a pediatric nurse. “

Chris, Woodinville High School: “Graduating is important to me because it is a very monumental thing in one person’s life because you’ve spent so many years working up to get towards that end goal of graduating and to get your high school diploma. It really is such a significant achievement in one person’s life. It’s definitely one of those core memories that you have. In ten years, I see myself doing, anything really, in the performing arts. Whether that be on Broadway, because I want to be on Broadway one day. Or whether that be to work in film or direct something. Just anything in the performing arts world. That’s where I see myself in ten years.”  

Daniel, West Valley High School: “The reason why I’m graduating is so important to me is because it is kind of like a doorway into being a successful adult and doing things that I love. I have many goals as an adult but what I see myself doing in ten years from now is, hopefully, doing computer science stuff for some organization, I don’t know. And hopefully on the side, make some YouTube videos.”

Destany, Graham Kapowsin High School: “Graduating is important to me because I want to leave my mark wherever I go and in ten years I see myself being an elementary school teacher. I cannot wait for the day I get to speak life into my students.”

Donyae, On Track Academy in Spokane: “Graduating is important to me because it gives you a foundation for anything you want to do in life. College, working in the field of whatever you want to do. In ten years, I see myself being a rapper.”

Dosh, Mount Tahoma High School: “Graduating is important to me because it’s the next level to your life such as going to college and learning new things. In ten years, I see myself as a professional mechanic fixing people’s cars.”  

Felipe, Lakewood High School: “Graduation for me, is very important because I have a chance to go to the next stage where I can get my certificate now and go to the college and study my goal of what I want to have. In ten years, I see myself some special job where I get a good future.”

Gage, Heritage High School: “Graduating is important to me because I can get a job! In ten years I see myself working, relaxing and being part of the community.

Gustavo, Franklin High School: “Graduating is important to me because I’m going to be the first one of my family and generation to finish high school. In ten years, I see myself graduating from Seattle University in engineering and hopefully be someone who’s inspirational for my community and back in my home country. Thank you.”

Isaac, Rogers High School:  “My plan after high school is probably to go to SCC for trade school. You know, something like that because I want to go into a trade. Treehouse has helped me in many ways. One of the biggest ways they’ve helped me is in getting my high school diploma and to push me to be a better man, and I already am.”

Jada, North Central High School and On Track Academy: “Graduating has always been super important to me because it’s something that I’ve always pictured myself doing and a couple other members of my family have done it and it’s made me super proud of them for it. In ten years, I hope to be in my own pottery studio or teaching high school or college students pottery.”

Jesus, Henry M. Jackson High School: “Graduating is important because we all need to show that we can finish high school. In ten years, I see myself working at a good job or maybe still studying.”

Johny, Ferris High School:
What’s your name? “Johny”
Where are you graduating from? “Ferris High School” 
What do you love to do? “Play baseball” 

Jose, Henry M. Jackson High School: “It’s important for me to graduate because you would need a high school diploma and a college diploma to succeed in life, in my opinion. In ten years, I see myself working at a good business job.”  

Katona, Chiawana High School: “Graduating is important to me because I can move forward in my life. In ten years, I see myself maybe as a counselor or as a kindergarten teacher.”

Kelly, North Central High School: “Graduating is important to me because it helps me get a job. In ten years, I see me writing music and going on tours and sharing my story around the world.”  

Lexi, Central Valley High School: “Graduating is important to me because I feel like I needed to prove to myself that I was able to accomplish something that would dictate my future. In ten years, I see myself working hard and making my life as normal as possible with loving family and friends behind my back.”  

Mackenzie, A G West Black Hills High School: “The reason why graduation is so important to me is because it marks the end of the last 13 years of my life in school and allows me to move forward and pursue my college career and education at the State University of New York New Paltz and obtain my major in psychology and minor in theater arts. I see myself in ten years pursuing my dream career of becoming a forensic psychologist and starting a family and living my life and traveling the world.”

Mapenzi, Franklin High School: “Going to college is very important to me because I grew up in refugee camp. It was very hard for a young man to get a good education and to have a better future in their lives. In refugee camp I hoped to become something and get an education. And when I came to the United States, I find hope and opportunities around me and I’ll be going to UW in the fall. In ten years, I see myself helping refugees around the world to have a better future and bright future in their lives and give them the opportunities to be who they want to be.” 

Mityanna, Meadowdale High School: “Graduation is so important to me because it has shown me that no matter what my background was, as long as I work hard, I can accomplish my goals. In the next ten years, I see myself pursuing my goal of becoming a dental assistant and traveling to other countries.”  

Noor, Mt. Spokane High School: “Graduation is important for me. It is a stop I’m going to protect. What is my future going to look like? What is my going to look like after I graduate from high school? In ten years, I’m going to be at Whitworth University to study history. After I graduate from Whitworth, I’m going to find a job and have a family, have a life and try to help people. Thank you to Treehouse and thank you to Julie.”  

Nur, Mt. Spokane High School: “Graduation is important to me because it helps me go to college next year. In ten years, I see myself in a good business in my country. Thank you for watching my video.”

Priscilla, Kennewick High School: “It’s important for me to graduate because I’m the first in my family to graduate from high school and I know that it’s really important to have that completed high school education for the job that I want, which is nursing. In ten years, I see myself probably living in an apartment either with a friend or by myself and looking for a house.”  

Quatezz, Lincoln High School: “Graduating is important to me because it is a big milestone in life. In ten years, I see myself probably in the military.”  

René, North Thurston High School: “Graduation is important to me because I know that I am going to make my family proud. I’m the younger son in my family and the first one to graduate high school. When I came to the United States, it was very difficult for me because I didn’t speak any English and I thought I wasn’t going to graduate. But now, I’m very proud of myself because in just a couple weeks I’ll be graduating from high school. In ten years from now, I see myself living in my own house and administrating my own coffee farm.”  

Robel, Lewis and Clark High School: “I’m the first in my family graduating and going to college. In ten years, I see myself being a filmmaker.”  

Rya, Ingraham High School: “Graduation is important to me because I’ve worked so hard to get to this point and overcome a lot of obstacles in my life to get to the point where I can graduate and can move on to college and a career. In ten years, I’d like to see myself as a relatively successful person with a good career.”  

Samuel, Sammamish High School: “Graduating for me is important because it’s the first step to succeed in life and to be better in the future. In ten years, I see myself as a doctor and I want to help people to get better. Thank you.”  

Shellbe, Redmond Transition Academy: “The reason why graduation is important is because I earned my diploma at the school. In ten years, I see myself holding down a full-time job.” 

Skyjah, Life Christian Academy: “Graduating to me is important because it shows diplomacy and it shows that you’re ready to put your best foot forward in the next stage of your life. It shows that you were able to work hard and you were able to be diligent and to just ride it out and to finish strong. In ten years, I see myself being a veterinarian and owning a house up in Seattle or Mercer Island. Something like that, with a family and stuff. Congratulations to all you guys and see you guys later.”

Skyler, Mount Spokane High School: “Graduating is important to me because I’ll be the only person in my biological family to do so. In ten years, I see myself in a career that I’m very passionate about and successful and happy.”

Tatiana, SOTA High School: “Graduating is important to me because only one other person in my family has graduated and I want to make a second one. What I want to do in ten years, where I see myself in ten years is working in childcare and working with children who have experienced trauma.”

Trey, North Central High School: “The reason graduation is very important to me is because I see it as another step in my goals and also, I’m the first in my family to be graduating high school so it’s important to that point. Ten years down the road, I want to become a police officer. My goal, career wise, is to become a police officer and help serve and protect other people.”

Interested in supporting Treehouse and youth in foster care? Make a gift at treehouseforkids.org/donate.

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