By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

Peabody-Burns seniors participating in a community service project Friday at City Park took time out from their work to reflect on the diverse lives they expect to lead after graduation.

Esperanza Solis, who moved from Wichita three years ago with her parents, Tina and Jeffery Tracy, said coming to Peabody had been a culture shock.

“But it was a good one,” she added.

As she cleaned years of gunk off a window in a concession stand at City Park, she said, “I never want to eat at the concession stand again.”

Perhaps more Taylor Swift music on a loudspeaker, would have helped.

The thing Esperanza liked best about attending school at Peabody is how small the classes were. She also likes how close the community is.

In high school, her favorite class was English, and she enjoyed being a teacher’s assistant in the school office.

Perhaps that enjoyment led to her plans for life after high school.

She plans to study elementary education at Butler Community College and Emporia State University through a joint program that will allow her to take all classes on the El Dorado campus.

“I can stay with Butler and complete it,” Esperanza said.

She wants to teach elementary students because she relates to them.

“I like the younger classes,” she said. “There are interesting things about the older classes as well.”

This summer, she plans to continue working at Peabody Health and Rehab, where she is a nurse’s assistant.

Next to Esperanza, senior Arianna Wilson washed concession stand walls.

Arianna, daughter of Joshua and Meagan Wilson, moved to Peabody from Newton five years ago. She also looks upon the move to Peabody as a positive.

“I don’t like big schools, so coming to the small school is really great,” she said.

Like Esperanza, Arianna works as an aide at Peabody Health and Rehab. In her case, that’s probably where she figured out her life goal.

“I love the residents and the environment,” she said.

She also will attend Butler Community College and study to become a nurse.

Peabody native Logan Esau’s family history had an effect on his career goal of becoming a professional rodeo competitor.

His grandfather, Brian Stucky, was a large part of that decision.

“My grandpa rode bulls professionally for a few years,” Logan said. “I kind of grew up around it.”

Logan, son of Dani Kirkley, competed in Kansas High School Rodeo Association events.

At a rodeo Nov. 11, he took third place in a bull-riding, fifth place in chute doggin’ and heeling, and first place in steer stop.

Another rodeo Dec. 17, he took fourth in bull riding, fifth in chute doggin’, eighth place in heading and heeling, and second in steer stop.

Stacy Sattler, who grew up in Peabody, loved history class best, but that’s a far distance from where she wants to go.

She wants to study criminology at Kansas State University and move to a larger town.

“It interests me, and I’d get to help people,” she said.

She hopes to end up in the field of law enforcement in a larger city.