Sisters grad found her path to University of Oregon

Being a high school student is no easy feat. Transitioning from middle school to freshman year feels like you're living in a whole new world and by the time you finally start to settle in you need to start thinking about moving on.

Anxiety about the future is natural, especially when transitioning from high school to something like college or a full-time job. In a survey done by Appily among over 6,000 high school students, almost half of the students reported that they have increased anxiety, nerves, and worry when thinking about college planning.

However, looking at success stories of past graduates can help both create a vision and deeper knowledge of what you might want to pursue.

Photo by Jack Turpen

Sydney Linn is attending the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communications and has a spot on the cheer squad.

Sydney Linn, a 2023 graduate of Sisters High School is an example of a student whose path is both inspirational and educational. A lifelong dancer and exemplary student, Linn was offered a Presidential Scholarship from the University of Oregon. She auditioned for their cheer team and was soon accepted into the squad.

She's currently a sophomore in the School of Journalism and Communications and plans to work in public relations or advertising after graduation with a focus on communications and community engagement. Linn is also a member of the University of Oregon Dance Team and member of the Alpha Phi sorority.

"The University of Oregon was the only school I applied to in Oregon," she told The Nugget. "I had initially planned to go to a school in California...However, after earning the Presidential Scholarship and making the cheer team everything fell into place. I'm so grateful I chose UO because it's given me the chance to explore different majors and programs while connecting with people from diverse backgrounds".

Linn acknowledges that she held her own doubts about the future when she was a high schooler.

"If I had to give advice to my high school self, I would have said it's okay not to have everything figured out," she said. "In high school I always felt like I needed to be prepared and have everything perfectly planned out. When things didn't go as planned, I'd feel stressed and anxious. But I've learned that you don't need to have your entire life mapped out at 18. College is a time to explore, make mistakes, and figure things out as you go."

Although Linn's journey isn't the typical route of a high school student, her journey provides insight into what could happen if you care deeply enough about your community to become involved and make a difference.