Since November of 2019, Senior Callen Zurn has been working the early shift at United Parcel Service (UPS). Every weekday from 4 a.m. to around 9 a.m., Zurn lifts and unloads packages from semi-trucks to get deliveries on their way to their destinations.

Many people might find the 4-9 a.m. shift grueling, but as a morning person, Zurn finds it easy to work. On an average day he is up 30 minutes before his shift and gets ready to start the day. Once he’s there, he and his shift mates work together to get the day’s shipments unloaded, scanned, and reloaded onto their UPS delivery trucks for home delivery.

Zurn’s main reason to work for UPS was to save money to put towards his college expenses. He plans to go to Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kan. He also hopes to continue working for UPS while he’s attending college, and use the company’s education assistance program to help pay for his tuition.
Zurn’s medical terminology teacher, Jason Drake, believes that while Zurn has always been a mature student, after working for UPS, Drake noticed he’s become more goal and career focused over the last three months.

“He’s always been mature, but you can tell he’s more interested in stuff, and with his job, he’s going to need to be more mature after he graduates,” Drake said.

To start his job at UPS, Zurn made the decision to quit the basketball team. Basketball has been and activity he has done since he was a child. So what was an initially hard decision to make, became a necessary hurdle to get over.

“I had been thinking about it for a while, the final decision was tough because I don’t see some of my friends as much,” said Zurn. “I miss the atmosphere.”

Many high school senior parents worry about their childrens next step into the “real world,” but for Zurn’s mother, Cassie Zurn, she feels he’s ready to take on the challenge. She believes that he’s had to make hard decisions this year, and is proud of him for preparing for his future.

“I think some kids hit that stage where they’re just ready, and I think Callen was just ready,” said Cassie Zurn “He’s always been that person but I think he finally realized he had to give up something that he loved for something he needed to do.”