My time as Miss Wisconsin’s Outstanding Teen was one well spent, and I wouldn’t have done it any other way. However, it always does come to an end – at least my time with the crown has come to an end. My aspirations and goals have not changed though, and I’d like to talk to you about what I have planned for life after the crown for myself.
The biggest question I’m usually asked is in regards to my career and college ambitions. I have three schools picked out, my #1 being Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The school is incredible, as it is primarily research based and one of the best engineering schools in the world. Because it is the best, that means that it is extremely difficult to get into, so I’ve made a few backup plans if that doesn’t fall in place. The other two schools I’ve also taken a liking to is University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and Georgia Institute of Technology. Both are also research based schools and are in the top of the engineering field in the country.
In case you haven’t guessed it by the schools I’m interested in, I definitely want to go into engineering. I’m still determining what field of engineering, but the one I’m currently most interested in is nuclear engineering. Since early exposure is extremely difficult to obtain in the nuclear science field, I’ve looked into a couple of camps over the summer to go to in order to receive a little bit of exposure.
I’m set in July to spend 14 days in Atlanta exploring different fields of engineering at the National Student Leadership Conference, where I will also be visiting with growing businesses to see what the work force for each of the fields is like. I’m not sure what to expect from the experience other than that, but I’m hoping that this camp will help me decide which field of engineering I want to go into exactly. Following the NSLC camp, I’ll be heading straight to Orlando to watch the Miss Wisconsin’s Outstanding Teen 2018 compete in MAOTeen 2019! I’m so excited to be on the other side of the stage this year, and to have this experience. The MAOTeen competition will lead me straight into August, where I will then come back home.
I’ll be in home sweet home for about two and a half weeks before my family and I road trip out west for our family vacation. It’s tradition to visit a national park every summer for us, and this year we’ll be covering a few in northern California and southern Oregon. I’ll be sure to maintain my fitness with the hikes and swimming I’ll be doing out there! Once we’ve spent a little under two weeks out west, we’ll return back to home sweet home.
That same week we return, school starts back up for me. I’ll be continuing my academic career as a full time college and full time high school student. I’m currently on track to graduate in the spring of 2019 with an Associates degree in early May, then graduate from Wausau West High School in late May. Next year summer doesn’t have many plans yet, aside from me most likely getting a job, and hopefully moving to Boston for college. That leads me back to the start of this blog – colleges, colleges, and careers.
It has been a pleasure serving the state of Wisconsin, and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I’m looking forward to what my future holds, and am thankful for the opportunities that this year has given me.
Thank you,
Grace Stanke
Miss Wisconsin’s Outstanding Teen 2017
