As seniors move on to their next steps of college, some are also experiencing a change in scenery. While some stick to Kansas colleges, some will go on to out-of-state colleges and experience college life farther away from home.

Maize High senior MJ McCollum is attending Oklahoma State University in the Ferguson College of Agriculture located in Stillwater, Oklahoma; a two-hour drive from Maize.

“I think it’s common in all fresh college students, a new world is opened up and decisions will be made by us,” McCollum said. “Learning what we need to take care of ourselves independently will be the hardest thing, especially without pets.”

McCollum has already made several connections on campus and believes college will be a good thing for her.

“I feel at home in Stillwater and I feel like [my] true authentic self when on campus,” she said.

Majoring in something that makes McCollum happy is what led her to ranch management and certifying in equine at OSU.

“I looked back and asked my eight-year-old self ‘what would my soul shine doing?’ and that was being with animals,” McCollum said.

Maize High senior Zoie Ecord is majoring in food science at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Nebraska. Ecord is looking forward to living in a new state.

“I am most excited for meeting new people and getting to experience living in a new state,” Ecord said.

Ecord feels that the biggest challenge is that everything is new to her.

“I think the biggest challenge is going to be to try and get settled in and figure out how college works,” Ecord said.

Maize High senior Grace Wunsch is attending the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas to major in elementary education. Wunsch says the biggest challenge is moving away from home.

“Leaving everyone for sure and not being close to home,” Wunsch said. “It’s a new school and I don’t really know anyone so it’s very scary.”

For some students like Maize South Hope Glover, they are venturing even farther and moving outside of the midwest. Glover is attending Howard University in Washington, D.C.

“I think the biggest challenge will be moving away from my friends and family,” Glover said. “They are my rock.”

Glover will be majoring in pre-law and political science and is excited about new experiences.

“I am most looking forward to the new atmosphere and meeting new people,” Glover said.