Humans of East: Q&A with East alum Ella Rogers after graduating a semester early

After transferring from St. Teresa’s Academy to East her senior year in order to graduate early, East alum Ella Rogers successfully graduated after the first semester. Rogers shares some insight into what she’s been doing over her first semester after graduation.

How have you been spending your semester off?

“I’m taking a class at Johnson County Community College and studying architecture. I just took one class to see if I wanted to major in architecture in college. That’s been taking up some of my time.”

How has your architecture class been going?

“It’s going really well. I like it because it’s discussion based, so we’ll take pictures around the areas near us, and then we bring them to class. We discuss the different types of forms and architecture, so it’s pretty interesting.”

Has this class made you want to major in architecture next year?

“I don’t think so. I realized that I appreciate architecture around me, but not in a way that I want to design it ever. So I ruled that out.”

Do you have any back-up plans for majors?

“I’m still trying to figure it out. I will be announcing that sometime in the next month.”

Has this semester off given you more free time than you expected?

“It’s definitely given me more free time that I had when I was in school because I no longer have eight hours a day that I’m physically going to high school. I only have a couple hours of architecture every week. It’s been really nice. I’ve been reading a little bit just to keep my mind engaged and going to go into class. Overall, I’m keeping sane, but it’s definitely more free time that I had when I was in school.”

What hobbies have you picked up over your break?

“I’m baking a lot. That’s been fun for me.  [I’m] taking walks [and] enjoying the warmer weather as spring comes. I went on a spring break trip. I was shopping before [the trip] then to buy some new outfits. Now I’m shopping a little bit for the summer. Shopping, baking, reading, working out.”

Would you recommend taking a semester off or graduating early?

“Yes, I would definitely recommend it. I know that the last semester of senior year is usually filled with a lot of senioritis, so for me personally, it was really helpful to graduate early and prevent some of that senioritis.”

To read more about Roger’s decision to graduate early, read: Getting on with Graduating: Two students at East who have transferred from private schools for the opportunity to graduate a semester early