After an unprecedented school year, high school seniors are planning what life looks like after graduation.
Melanie Banks, a college and career counselor at Somerville High School, said the pandemic is playing a role in the decision-making process. She said she's talking with students about going to college but maybe living at home, taking a gap year, going straight into the workforce or opting for community college.
Melanie said that students are excited about what vaccines mean for their futures, but the unknowns are still playing a huge role in their planning.
With all of her college and career guidance being virtual this year, she said that it's been more difficult than in past years to catch students who are feeling anxious about the process.
"There's a level of avoidance with planning your future when you don't actually know what it's going to be like next year, so how can you make that decision," Banks said. "So some students decide they're still going to plug away, and other students are like, 'I'm not going to text Ms. Banks back.'"
We also spoke with Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey about her thoughts on vaccination equity, the dispute between the Baker administration and teachers unions on how to vaccinate school stuff and how her job has changed because of the pandemic.
Click on the audio player above to listen to the full episode.
Segments:
Maura Healey - 1:40
Melanie Banks - 19:12
