Exploring Options

By Barry Engelhardt

I enjoy being given a problem and finding new solutions.

Jasper County senior Isaac Kocher plans on using college as a place of discovery. While Isaac has always been studious and was recognized as an Illinois State Scholar, he has also been active in music and athletics, so it’s no surprise that he wants to continue to explore and fine-tune as he determines what career he’d most like to pursue.

Isaac initially planned on attending Southern Illinois University Edwardsville but decided to start his college career at Lakeland Community College. He intends to explore STEM and business courses as he fine-tunes his area of study. He’s always been drawn to math and science, sharing, “I enjoy being given a problem and trying to work out a solution to it and finding new solutions.”

He adds, “I haven’t figured out something I’m passionate about yet. I know that’s the area [STEM and business] I want to do yet, but I haven’t figured out how to transfer that to a job. I know there’s a wide variety, a ton of options. I don’t know what I want to do, specifically.”

A curious exploration of new areas of interest is familiar to Isaac. One of his interests is music, with Isaac participating in band and musical theater throughout Jr. High and High School. As a senior, Isaac sang multiple solos (playing Harry, one of the fathers, in Mama Mia). While Isaac took on a central role in this year’s musical, he shares that he started participating in musicals, he was scared to sing on stage, even during group performances. “Through the years, I’ve gained a lot of confidence,” says Isaac.

“It feels like a family. It feels like a second family because you spend so much time together, working together. Everybody just gets really close.” He adds, “I’ve made a lot of friends and relationships through musicals.”

While discussing athletics, a similar pattern of growth through challenge and experience appears. Isaac played high school tennis, participating at the singles and doubles level all four years. COVID made it impossible to gain first-year team experience, and he was playing varsity, competing as the team’s number two slot as a sophomore.

Isaac admits that competing against players who were often older, faster, and more experienced was difficult. While he didn’t win much, he grew as a player, saying, “I’ve been able to win more because of the experience.”

As Isaac starts at Lakeland in the Fall, he’ll continue exploring, finding his way. Whether STEM, business, or a combination of the two, he’ll continue to grow due to trial and error. While unsure of what the future will or won’t hold, he strives to enjoy the simple things in life as he figures it out.

Regardless of his path, Jasper County will always be home, and his teachers will always be one of his most significant influences. As Isaac reflects on his high school career, he shares, “One day, if I move away, that’s the one thing I’ll remember. I have a lot of people here that I can go to and trust.”