What Went into Ava’s College Decision

Willow Murphy, Staff Writer

February 22, 2024

From the halls of Greater Latrobe to the ivy-covered tower of the Cathedral of Learning, this is the road on which Ava Krehlik has made her first tentative step. Taking with her a passion for children, Ava hopes to focus on a vocation of care. “I am going to the University of Pittsburgh. I am going to study nursing with dreams of becoming a pediatric nurse.”

In high school Ava took classes like human body systems, anatomy, and the Allied Health Internship. All of these classes helped set her up for college and find what she is truly passionate about, which is nursing school.

Ava had other options such as Carlow, IUP, RMU, and Duquesne, but Pitt won out and now Ava is a proud Panther. “When I took a tour of Pitts Nursing program, I instantly fell in love. Pitt has an excellent nationally-ranked nursing program that made it clear that I would get the best education there.”

But college is not all about learning, it is about finding a fertile soil in which to grow and thrive. For Ava, that means residing on campus and experiencing dorm life. The senior said, “I enjoyed the atmosphere a lot more than the other schools I was looking at too, mainly because of the city and the opportunities it offered.”

This decision was also guided by those around her. “My family supported me with whatever decision I made while guiding me with things like financial costs and goals,” she said.

She looks forward to getting the full college experience and being independent by rooming in a dorm on campus. She is going the way most college students choose to go. This is the first time experiencing real independence and how to live life self-reliantly. Krehlik is deciding to stay in state to go to college but this didn’t play too big of a factor due to her wanting to stay in state based on some of her other college options.

As her peers at Greater Latrobe begin making college and vocational decisions, Ava offers this bit of insight. “My advice for college decision making is to submit an early application because it could increase your chances of getting in and will give you more time to prepare for your future.” Ava submitted an early decision and due to that she was able to plan accordingly.

The senior year of high school is bittersweet. Transitioning into adulthood, and many dear friends made along the way will be strangers this time next year. But going to college is also taking on the opportunity of realizing your dreams and aspirations. Like any journey, there is trepidation and anxiety. But Ava’s journey is about to begin.

About the Contributor

Willow Murphy, Staff Writer

Willow Murphy is a senior at Greater Latrobe High School. This is her first year in multimedia journalism which makes this her first year doing The High Post. She is a very academically focused student recognized by the National Honors Society. Willow is interested in writing about the student life at Greater Latrobe during her last year of high school to express how high school can be an intense yet enjoyable experience to everyone. She is planning on attending college after high school in hopes to study biology. Willow has always had a passion for writing stories and since this is her last year to write for The High Post she decided to express herself publicly. Her favorite endeavors is to learn about the world through traveling and opening her mind by experiencing the world. She tends to spend much of her down time with family and friends, doing mundane activities such as board games and simply sitting at home watching tv to more adventurous pursuits such as hiking cliff walks in Rhode Island or exploring more urban environs like Dallas and Boston. Willow is planning on going to college in a New England state due to her love for New England and the various schools she has toured. Her passion for traveling has allowed her to meet new people and see so many different places at a young age. Willow’s love for traveling is always accompanied by family and friends. Willow has been to several different schools because of her family moving around when she was younger, but has been settled down in the Latrobe school district since she was in eighth grade. She knows what it is like to be a new kid in school and wants to use this writing platform to illustrate to new kids or incoming freshmen that Greater Latrobe is a family and that you can find a home anywhere, whether it be in clubs, sports, or the student section. Her main goal is to leave a positive impact on others by writing on The High Post.