Alaska’s Class of 2024 offers insight into what’s next

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – It’s graduation season across Alaska, and thousands of students are getting their diplomas and preparing for big changes in their lives.

It’s a time filled with excitement, but also a lot of unknowns, both for high school and college grads.

Students like Leni Sjostrom from Service High School is one graduate who has a lot of questions on her mind.

“Am I going to be able to adjust well? How am I going to pay for college? Is my passion going to grow? Am I going to think differently once I’m done with college?” Sjostrom asked.

With so many questions, it can be hard to find answers, especially when so much is expected of these new graduates.

Service High School grad Phoenix Perkins said he’s learned to take life as it comes.

“I don’t think you ever make it, you just always like, have fun along the way kind of, and you can enjoy certain parts a lot,” Perkins said.

Saumani Atiifale, a football player from Bettye Davis East High, expressed his feelings on how he feels in the moment as he prepares for life after graduation.

“I feel like I’m not ready, but I feel like when you don’t feel like you’re ready, you just have to, you just … gotta go,” Atiifale said. “I just want to take the risk right now, before it’s too late.”

As Alaska graduates its students, it’s time for them to find their own answers, knowing as they enter this next phase in their lives, it’s okay not to know what’s next.

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