LITTLE ROCK, AR -- It's always a big day at high schools when seniors sign letters of intent to play college sports. Yet, some Arkansas students are choosing a different path in life.



Two Little Rock Catholic High school seniors are going to seminary.



These seniors say they've prayed about this for a long time and it's their calling.



Stephen Elser and his best friend Joseph de Orbegozo won't be following most of their classmates after graduation.



"It's a long eight years of spiritual formation. Joseph and I like to joke, the diocese owns us now," says Elser.



Their school and their parents are cheering them on.



"We saw from early childhood he (Joseph) was very special. He was born premature, and he had a hard time starting life. So I said, he was so blessed to us, so it's nothing but the right thing for him to serve God. That would be the right call for him," says Luis de Orbegozo, Joseph's father.

It's exciting but overwhelming.



They've considered other careers and college opportunities.



"It's kind of scary to close all those doors," says Elser.



Having two out of 146 seniors go to seminary is a big deal for Catholic High. The Diocese of Little Rock has really seen a growth in students going to seminary school. This year, Arkansas is sending 33 students, that's more than double from four years ago.



The diocese credits better promotion and youth programs.



"Through my life I found myself gravitating toward the church and gravitating toward CYM, which is Catholic Youth Ministry," says Joseph de Orbegozo.