Emeli Moreno

The allure of distant campuses and sprawling universities beckon many graduating seniors, but for Emeli Moreno (12), the path to her dreams wound up being closer to home. This fall, Moreno will be sprouting her roots at the University of Memphis, located in the heart of the city.

“I applied to two colleges and was accepted into both, but ultimately my decision lied in the fact that UofM actually offered the major I was most interested in, that being art education, as well as another, not something that I would pursue as a major, but something I’m passionate about and want to continue beyond high school is Japanese,” Moreno said. “Both of these courses are not offered at Rhodes and ultimately that’s where my decision lied in.” 

Beyond Moreno’s choice of major, staying close to her family provides invaluable support as she enters a new chapter in her life. 

“I’m glad to say I have a stable home life and two parents that really do care for me, and they’re offering me the opportunity for them to still help out a bit financially and for me to have a stable place to fall back on just in case anything goes wrong,” Moreno said. 

While attending UofM, Moreno hopes to meet a diverse range of people, immerse herself in campus life and explore all Memphis has to offer.

“I would say getting to know new people and connecting with others within the field I’m interested in studying to then further grow in that area and learn more about myself and why I am deciding to commit to this major and career because it’s a lot to think about.”

Casey Jones

The dream of becoming a top-notch mechanical engineer requires the right environment.

This fall, Casey Jones (12) travels across the country to Indiana to attend Purdue University while majoring in mechanical engineering.

“I chose to attend Purdue as it has a very respectful mechanical engineering program,” Jones said. “I believe the college town will be a nice environment to help foster my growth.”

When Jones received his letter, there was a mixture of excitement and uneasiness for him as he tore open the envelope.

“I smiled a lot when I opened the letter,” Jones said. “That night I partied a lot, it was a very joyous occasion.”

Financial planning is key for Jones to turn his academic dreams into a reality. Scholarships are a good start, but additional costs require some strategic maneuvering.

“Scholarships aside, I plan on taking out some loans in order to cover my tuition,” Jones said. “I also plan on picking up an internship for mechanical engineering to further assist in covering costs.”

Riley Reeves

The cobbled streets and maritime allure of Liverpool, England, have long held a certain enticement for travelers and dreamers alike.

For Riley Reeves (12), that allure is about to become a reality. This fall, Reeves will be trading in her Memphian life for an adventure across the pond, embarking on a new chapter in her life as she pursues an education at Liverpool’s Institution of Performing Arts (LIPA).

“A lot of universities in America don’t have the program that caters to what I want,” Reeves said.  “The only [college] I found that offers the program was MTSU, and even then I would rather be experiencing something new rather than staying in Tennessee. However, I found so many different universities and colleges in the UK that were specifically catered to music business.” 

Despite her having options on attending a college within the states, Reeves decided to venture overseas to pursue a major in music business, with aspirations of becoming a music manager and managing bands.

“I’m really looking forward to the fact that the University I chose is very project-based,” Reeves said. “I think mostly that what you’re really doing is working with other students from other facilities … I know some students put together an entire musical for their final project, so I believe it’s very versatile and you can do what you want to do.”

Adapting to a new culture and potentially a language barrier are challenges Reeves is ready to embrace. To help manage her expenses, she’s got a plan to finance herself while away from home. 

“For my first year I’m very thankful for my parents that will be giving me an allowance while I settle in,” Reeves said. “My second year though, with my student visa, my campus is a walking distance away from an outdoor area with a lot of shops … so I’m hoping I’m able to get a job to cover basic utilities and food.” 

With a clear vision for the future, Reeves sees her Liverpool experience as a springboard for her post-college goals. Her dream career lies in the dynamic world of music, and her time in Liverpool will be instrumental in achieving it. Specifically, Reeves has her sights on working for Sony Japan after she graduates from LIPA, a powerhouse in the global music industry. 

“So what I had in mind was to move over there [Japan] and work there for a bit, then I want to help them with their international relations to expand some of their artists to different countries,” Reeves said.