The Graduates : Valedictorians Ponder Their Future

This month about 17,600 seniors will graduate from public and private high schools throughout the San Fernando, Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys. Some will go to college, others into the military and still others directly into the workplace. Despite a 16.6% high school dropout rate statewide, a lingering recession and higher college tuition fees, some members of this year’s crop of high school graduates are optimistic about their future. Others still worry about life after high school. Here’s a sampling of opinions from some of the region’s valedictorians, students with the highest grade-point averages at their schools.

Monique VandenBerg, 18

* Residence: North Hollywood

* School: St. Genevieve High School

* College: Loyola Marymount University

* Career goal: Undecided, pursuing liberal studies

I don’t think the future is as bad as it seems. There are a lot of positive signs which show there can be some hope. For instance, a lot of kids are getting the message to stay away from drugs. The economy is turning around and society is turning around. I think that our generation will make the difference. If my peers and I have enough determination, we can turn things around.

Mitchell Berger, 17

* Residence: Chatsworth

* School: Chatsworth High School

* College: University of Pennsylvania

* Career goal: Medical industry executive

For myself, I’ve been pretty lucky. My parents gave me a strong moral and ethical upbringing, which helps out. But I see a lot of people in my age group are living for the now rather than worrying about what is going to happen in the future. With all the problems, it’s too heavy for them to look at the future. It’s easier to go into this imaginary world and have fun and not worry about it.

Eric S. Hong, 18

* Residence: Woodland Hills

* School: North Hollywood High School

* College: Harvard University

* Career goals: Undecided, leaning toward law and government

In high school, I’ve been lucky to be around people into community service. I think that will continue and get stronger among the people I’ve known and, hopefully, among my generation. All generations are going to be materialistic, it’s just a matter of to what degree. Our generation is sounding the retreat from “Greed is Good.� I did some work for the community service club for our school and I’ve done volunteer work at Humana Hospital in West Hills.

Dawn Stokka, 18

* Residence: Lake Los Angeles

* School: Littlerock High School

* College: Eastern New Mexico University

* Career goals: Veterinarian

Some of my peers are concerned about the future, but most probably don’t think about what they’re going to do. They’re only concerned about the present because that’s what’s important to them. A lot of them don’t take the recession seriously, because it doesn’t really affect them. I’m sort of worried that everything will get worse. I’m concerned about what Clinton wants to do with health care and more taxes. I’m hoping things will get better.

Ryan Ruiz, 18

* Residence: Sylmar

* School: Sylmar High School

* College: Notre Dame University

* Career goal: Civil engineering

We need to be optimistic. I don’t think we can lose all hope. We need to keep going or we’re giving in without even trying. We need to persevere. Finding a job may be difficult in five or six years. I don’t have a bright outlook, but I think I’ll have a chance. Hopefully things will work out. I hope to eventually work out West, but if I graduated and found a job somewhere else I’d live there. You have to go where the jobs are.

College-Bound

Where are this year’s graduates headed? If a survey of Los Angeles Unified School District students who graduated last June is any indication, many of this month’s graduates may want to enroll in community colleges or trade schools. The survey found that 65% planned to seek more education after getting their diplomas. Here’s where they planned to enroll:

Community college or trade school: 48%

California State University system: 23%

University of California system: 15%

Private university: 6%

Public university outside the state: 4%

Unknown: 4%

Source: Los Angeles Unified School District

Researched and written by STEPHANIE STASSEL / Los Angeles Times