Kylie Brundage has been pushing through her last two years of high school with a strong focus on her future.

Kylie recently turned twenty this February. Having not taken school seriously in the past, she’ll graduate in 2027. Like most kids, she aspired to go to college. Those plans later derailed, she stopped caring about that dream; her grades slipped, she hadn’t joined extracurriculars, and ended up dropping out after being in ALE. “Every adult tells you that your grades matter once you get into highschool–but I never really grasped it at first, mainly because all you’re ever told is that it matters most for college.”

But then, she felt behind. “I saw my graduating peers’ posts, and saw them all moving to their next step of life–which is college.” Recalling her childhood dream, she decided to return to high school instead of getting her GED. It wasn’t easy at first, with the challenge of getting back into a schedule after months of free time. Now, the hardest part is being surrounded by peers younger than her, who make it hard to focus on her work. But as long as she “[keeps] a cool head, [pushes] through, [comes] to school, [does her] work, and [leaves],” she’ll do just fine.

She won’t be done in 2027 either. She’s prepared for thirteen more years of school to become a medical examiner and advocate for the deceased. After her father passed in an unexpected accident, there was the need for a medical examiner; She found comfort in the funeral services and the medical examiner’s insight as to how he passed. She’s seen the need for them, whether that be in homicide cases or unexpected passings. Overall, she believes that “becoming a medical examiner can help tell the victim’s story, especially when they can’t.”

Her father’s passing didn’t just steer her to her future career, it also taught her independence. She learned that tomorrow isn’t promised to those around you, and that eventually, she’ll “have to be the sole person guiding [herself] through life.” As a result, she became reserved and hesitated to form new relationships out of a fear that they’d leave. She’s now become more accepting of the inevitable, namely death, and appreciates what she has in the moment. She says: “You may have people around to help you now, but they won’t be there forever. The more you take care of when you’re younger, the less you have to make up for when you’re older.”

That isn’t to say she’s been on this journey alone. Her boyfriend’s had the biggest impact on her life. They met in ALE their sophomore year and ended up dropping out at the same time. Even now, he’s supported her throughout her journey—physically and emotionally. “He works many hours […] to provide for the both of us while I am a student.” He’s encouraged her future plans unlike her past partners, and has been steadfast by her side.

She’s thought a lot about her future and wants to build a family of her own, where she can provide a “safer and happier childhood for [her] children, and to end the cycle of poverty, alcohol, and drug abuse within [her] family.” Her siblings look up to her, and she wants to be a good example for them, too.

By 2027, she’s going to complete what she “basically thought was impossible.” Her grades are the best they’ve ever been, and she’s pushed herself through things she’d have quit in the past.

Kylie’s journey has taught her not to wallow in self-pity, because “the more excuses you make for yourself, the more you dull your potential.”