When I look at high school students, I see a majority of them endlessly rushing around trying to accomplish all the requirements they need to be accepted into college. On top of this, they are doing schoolwork and normal extracurricular activities.
Yet, it isn't just high school seniors that are in a mad rush to create an elaborate college application resume; this burden has now passed down to juniors and sophomores, and even freshmen are now trying to do as much as they can to meet the stiff standards that many colleges now have. While they may be doing wonderful things in the community, be involved in extracurricular activities and handling their normal school load, I wonder just how many adults are paying close attention to how the teen is really doing.
Many universities and colleges are requiring hours of community service, all kinds of extracurricular involvement and good grades-and now they are also looking to AP or college courses students have taken, along with anything else that may elevate them from the "regular" crowd of applicants.
Students literally spend all day doing "stuff," and normally sacrifice sleep in order to keep up with it all. Homework, soccer practice, debate team, yearbook and a part-time job, they wake up early in the morning for school and often don't return home until late at night, perhaps 9 p.m. or later.
There is a lot of pressure on teens to prepare themselves for the "real world" and at the same time create the largest resume they can to get into their first-choice school. Families may hold dreams for their children to attend an Ivy League school or the big state school. It's the American dream to receive the best education at the best school, to graduate and find the best job and make the most money.
A college education is certainly held on a pedestal, and with that is the admissions process. It is as if college admissions workers are deities, and teens and their parents focus those four precious years of high school worshipping the admissions gods. If they don't do everything to please them, then the student's college career is doomed.
Let me offer reassurance for those engaging or soon to engage in the college planning process. If a student does not meet all the "requirements" for the dream school of their choice, it does not mean their entire future is shot. There are so many options for students looking for a continuing education. My personal belief is that every young adult has a specific path just for them, and it will not necessarily be "what everyone else is doing."
I have had an interesting educational journey myself. When I started high school, I was dead set against college. As a freshman, I didn't see why I needed to go at the time and was planning on running my own business as a graphic designer. Of course with success in sports through the following years I decided I wanted to attend college after all-to participate in track and cross country.
The nice thing for me was that I chose to do Running Start in high school; I left high school at the end of my sophomore year and spent the next two years attaining an associate's degree at a local community college. I was still able to participate in high school sports and activities if I chose to, which I did, and received two years of free college education.
I then transferred to a nearby Division 2 school once I graduated high school (and college) and stayed there for a year. I didn't have an expansive resume as others did when I applied for college. I had some community service hours, but after a stressful sophomore year in high school being involved in too many extracurricular activities and a job, I decided to only do the things I really wanted to do and was good at, along with working part-time. I knew at the time that school was where I was going to go and knew I would get in, despite not having as impressive a resume as some others.
I encourage students to do what they truly want to do during high school, on top of their schoolwork. To seek out new activities and find what they are most passionate about. It may not be right for them to attend the large state school, but instead to go to a smaller school or even community college. There is no point in stressing out to fill all the admissions requirements, because there are many options.
I also encourage taking a break after high school; not only is it a great way to save money, but to get some life experience before heading to school. I took two years off from school and just started again this past May. I was tired of trying to fit into a school's mold and wanted to find an educational opportunity that truly fit me, and I found a program that meets my needs. Taking a break was the best thing I've done in my journey, and I learned what I was passionate about and also learned a lot about myself, others and life.
Encourage students to search for what is best for them, whether it be an Ivy League school or no school at all. In the long run it will surely benefit them, keep them from getting so stressed out during high school and help them take advantage of the remaining years of their youth.
Ashley Marshall works as a teen mentor at the Magnolia Community Center. She can be reached at mageditor@nwlink.com.[[In-content Ad]]
