Meanwhile, at McKinley High School, a laid-back Mary Militante, with a white flower behind her right ear, hung out with friends after school at a peer-education classroom. The Honolulu resident, a voracious reader, has her heart set on becoming a social worker.

And at Maryknoll School, a shiny, three-foot-tall trophy sits on a desk at the front office of the high school. The award reads "2005 Hawaii Botball Tournament — 1st Place Overall," and it has found a home at the Honolulu private school, thanks in part to Brian Tabata, captain of the school's robotics team. Tabata, of Kailua, envisions a career in physics, possibly working at a NASA laboratory or teaching at a university.

Since they were kindergartners, seniors like Sauve, Militante and Tabata have been led down a path clearly defined: go to school, strive for good grades.

But graduation is upon us, and the diplomas this year's seniors will be receiving are, ultimately, a welcome to adulthood. First choice: College? Four-year? Two-year? A break? Trade school? Work? Travel? Volunteer?

Thousands of high-school seniors face a myriad of choices each year. It can be exciting, and it can be scary, all at the same time. Much of what happens depends on how much thought the graduate has already given to his/her future.

Jack Sauve and other JROTC cadets at Leilehua High School fill out a questionnaire. Sauve will study at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

"I'm excited about just starting a new chapter in my life because high school is over with, which is sad, but I'm excited about going to college and meeting people from all these different places," he said.

According to Careers & Colleges magazine, about two-thirds of the class of 2005 will go on to college. Most of the remaining grads will take time off to travel, work, volunteer or join the military.

Sauve, a member of Leilehua's swim team, the National Honor Society and an alto saxophone player in the school band, will attend the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., in hopes of becoming a Coast Guard pilot. His interest in the service stems from his father, a Navy man who graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.

"I know there's going to be a lot of different experiences and opportunities there that I never had before," Sauve said.

"It's definitely important so that they have some direction in where they're going in life," Iwanaga said. "That first step that you take right out of high school is important because that's your start of adulthood."

Weighing in on the decision-making process are factors such as financial situations, family expectations and peer pressure, seniors say. But what should matter most are a student's own personal goals — educational or otherwise, said Militante, 18.

Her advice to next year's seniors seems simple enough: "See what you're good at and figure out how to make that real."

College bound

Leilehua senior Douglas Griffith has known he would take the step to a four-year university since he was in the sixth grade.

"I've always wanted to go to college, that was never a question," said Griffith, 18. "The question was always where and what would I study."

A member of the school swim team and an active church youth leader, the Schofield Barracks teen looked into religious schools and considered things such as student population, class size and campus location.

He chose Whitworth College, a private Christian college in Spokane, Wash., where he plans to double-major in pre-med and vocal music. His ultimate goal is to become a pediatrician and also spend some time tending to the medical needs of tribes in Africa or Asia.

Griffith narrowed his choices through school brochures and pamphlets he requested and received in the mail, closely reviewing the materials with his family and college counselor.

His father is thrilled about Griffith's decision to attend a small, conservative Christian school. "There's more of a sense of community," said James Griffith, 54, a chaplain at Schofield Barracks.

"I want him to understand he's moving into the big leagues," James said. ... "I wanted him to look at a place that is going to challenge him in terms of both his faith and in terms of academics."

James Griffith advises other parents taking part in the college selection process to understand their children's needs and goals.

"Know your kid," James said. "If you know your kid, the decisions ... become a lot clearer."

Knowing where your heart is also helps.

McKinley senior Rebecca Chelliah, 18, said she is going to attend the University of Hawai'i-Manoa this fall. Unlike Griffith, going to school on the Mainland far from loved ones wasn't an option for Chelliah, who moved to Hawai'i from Sri Lanka when she was 6.

"I don't want to leave," the McCully teen said. "I like it better here, and I'm not really into change."

Chelliah has been interested in becoming an ophthalmologist since she was in the second grade, her interest sparked by her beloved grandfather, who suffered eye problems.

"You're going to help me see again," Chelliah recalled her grandfather telling her. Since then, Chelliah has not been able to imagine any other way of living.

Tabata, the 18-year-old Maryknoll senior and baseball player, also was strongly influenced by a family member. Two years ago for Christmas, his older sister gave him Richard Feynman's "Six Easy Pieces: Essentials of Physics Explained by Its Most Brilliant Teacher," a book filled with fantastical ideas that fascinated the science-loving student.

Tabata has enrolled in Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, where he will pursue his passion for physics.

"I've been looking at that as possibly a career goal for me," Tabata said. "I'm really interested in maybe teaching at a university and doing some theoretical research."

Other educational pursuits

Leilehua senior Zandrea Chang, 17, of Wahiawa, will attend Leeward Community College in Pearl City before enrolling at UH.

"Since I don't really know what I'm doing, I want to get the cheapest education I could," said the part-time cashier and cook at a pizza eatery, who is looking into a career in either teaching or counseling.

Chang plans to follow in the footsteps of her two older sisters who also attended LCC, then UH and finally universities on the Mainland.

"Both of my parents are college graduates and my sister just became a doctor, so obviously having a college degree means a lot in my family," Chang said.

Family expectations aside, Chang has always known she would continue her education after high school.

"Without a college degree there aren't many (employment) options," said Chang, a member of the school's soccer and water polo teams, and president of the Letterman's Club.

Militante, the aspiring social worker from McKinley, is also going on to a community college before transferring to UH or a college in Texas, where she has family. She's planning to sacrifice her summer break to get a head start by taking summer classes at Honolulu Community College.

"The faster you do it, the faster you finish in the long run," Militante said.

Her mother, Lisa Militante, said her youngest child has always been a "go-getter."

"Her decision to go to college early in the summer is not a surprise," said the 46-year-old homemaker. "We're very proud of her."

Lisa Militante and her husband Joe have four children, one of whom graduated from Harvard University. The couple has always taken part in their children's college selection process, but ultimately allow their kids to have the final say.

Making such important decisions — good or bad — is all part of becoming an adult, Lisa Militante said.

Mary "might make mistakes and that's also part of growing up," she said. "You can't mature without those bumps and scrapes."

Alternate routes

Not all seniors aspire to higher education.

Some graduates will join the military or pursue a trade apprenticeship. Some will take time off from schooling simply to travel, volunteer or work.

"Some are just tired of school and want to take a break," Iwanaga said.

Stephanie Barroga, a McKinley senior, 18, will postpone college for at least a year to work full time and save money to possibly pay her way through college. She works part time in sales and wants to get a full-time second job when she graduates.

"I see this more as (getting) life experience," said Barroga, of Kalihi.

Barroga has a plan, and no matter what the path, that's always a good start.

As for graduates who are undecided as they face their future, Iwanaga advises them to think about class subjects, sports or other hobbies, things that may lead them toward a particular school or profession.

"Think about what you are happy doing right now, then take it from there," he said.

And if you're a junior — or younger — plan, plan, plan.