Article: Where will College take you?

Submitted by tara.pina on Wed, 12/20/2017 - 10:46
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The students at Springville Junior High are not completely aware of the fun waiting for them when they came to school on College week.  The counselors had prepared activities for the students to do as the week progressed.  Many activities excited the students and got them in the College mood.  One of the things that the students learned form college week was that  people who go to college and graduate get paid 0.9 million more than those that do not go to college and graduate.  At the beginning of the week they had us stay in our third period class and talk about college and we asked our teachers any questions we had.  

Many colleges are options for the students at Springville Junior High, but the most tempting options are the ones that are close to home.  Lydia Felix, a ninth grader, said “I want to go to UVU because my cousin goes there and it has good education.  I have also heard that it is really cheap to go to school there.”  “I want to go to BYU, because it has a wonderful engineering program,” says Kimball Snapp, an eighth grader at Springville Junior.  Another eighth grader, Ellie Taylor, said that she wanted to go to BYU because it is simply amazing and her family goes there.  Ashlee Boston, a seventh grader, states her opinion by saying  that BYU was the place for her because she wants to be close to home.  She continued to say that her dad also went to BYU so that was another reason she desired to go there.  Though there are many different reasons that people go where they go many people are influenced by future jobs they want to have and where their family went.  

About a month ago the students came to school and were reminded that they would be talking about college all throughout the entire week.  During this time the counselors planned activities to have the students participate in throughout the whole week.  On the first day the students had the opportunity to sign the poster on the walls that had the college that they wanted to attend.  The posters were provided by the SJHS art program.  Some of the Colleges included, but are not limited to, SUU, UVU, BYU, U of U, and USU.  During quest time in the week the students and teachers stayed in their third period and talked about College and what it did for the rest of your life.  Ellie Taylor said, “I believe that College week is the counselors trying to prepare us for college.”  Kimball earnestly replied saying, “I think it is meant to inspire students to go to College.”  Ashlee thought about it and then stated that she thought they were wanting the students to learn about College.  

Scholarships and degrees were an important part of the entire week as they provide help with schooling and they help you get the type of job you want.  Lydia said, “I would like to get a scholarship for athletics because I enjoy playing sports.”  She goes on to say that she wants to get a four year degree in Physical Education or culinary arts because she likes food and sports.  Taylor said, “I want to get a scholarship for my education and live my life.  I am not sure what type of degree I want or what I will get it in.”  Boston said that she wanted to get her scholarship for academics and that she wanted a four year degree.  She goes on to say, “I want to get my degree to be a nurse degree of a vet because I like to help people and animals.”  Kimball explained that he would like to get his degree in mathematics or in athletics.   He says, “Because I have always been fascinated with Aerospace engineer, I want to get my degree in it and at least have a four year degree.”  

Many people do not realize that the home is the perfect place to talk about college and scholarships.  The importance of talking about college at home can’t be stretched enough, the students need to be informed to the best of their knowledge.  The more knowledge the students have the better informed decision they can make.  The students will learn also by their parents examples and will look to you for answers, and if you are informed the more helpful you are to your children.  As Benjamin Franklin said, “The only thing more expensive than education is ignorance.”  Allan Bloom talked about college and stated, “The importance of these years for an American cannot be overestimated.”

Attributions
Article by Ashlee Bayles - SJHS Student Staff Writer