Sisters choose different post-high school paths

Sisters Heather (17) and Holli (16) Coker with their newborn cousin.

(Left) “When school starts I’m planning to unenroll so I can enroll in my GED classes. I didn’t drop out. I want my high school diploma, but it’s just taking too long. I want to hurry up and get my degree so I can get a freakin’ good job.”

What led you to this decision?
“I was taking pre-AP classes and I was going to IMPACT (Early College High School), but I was having a hard time waking up at 5 in the morning to go to school. I was struggling, and my headaches started getting so bad that I couldn’t sleep at night. I had to have everything pitch black and super cold in the room. Toward the end of the year, I started going late or missing school a lot. I just decided that getting my GED is the better way to go for me.”

(Right) “I’m planning to continue in school, graduate and then join the Army. I don’t want to be fighting. I want to be a nurse. Then, when I get out after a few years, I want to become a prenatal nurse.”

Why choose the Army?
“You get to travel around for free. I love the idea of traveling, although I haven’t been able to do it because we really don’t have the money. I’d like to travel all over the world. Eventually, I’d like to live in Europe.”

— Heather and Holli Coker