College Knowledge Month in October is dedicated to helping seniors figure out their futures. The purpose of College Knowledge Month is to get students to think about what they want their future to look like. This month is full of different ways to help students feel prepared. Whether that is for college or for a career right after high school there are resources to help. It is a time for students to meet with counselors, colleges, businesses or whatever else they need to make them feel better equipped for the near future. Counselors understand that this can be a stressful year for seniors; they realize that this is everyone’s first time going through this transition.
School counselor Christina Frye said, “Don’t ever think there is a bad question or a stupid question because this is all new for you.”
During this month you can expect different things like, free webinars about different aspects of paying for and applying to college. These webinars are for students or families to participate in virtually to learn how to apply to college, understand financial aid, creating a FSA ID and searching for scholarships.
Another thing to expect is the ALHS College and Career Exploration Day Fair on Friday, October 27 from 1-3 p.m. This is not only for seniors but for sophomores and juniors to attend as well. There were over 45 colleges and 30 southern Minnesota employers for students to see. There will also be students from other local schools coming to attend this fair. During this time it is suggested to meet with as many colleges and employers as you can. Use this time to see if a college or career looks like the right path for you. This is the third year that this has been hosted by ALHS and ideally not the last.
Frye said, “It is important to take advantage of the college fair and ask questions. That’s why they’re there.”
There are also little things happening this month to get students thinking. One of these things is the college knowledge trivia on Tiger Vision, the daily news broadcast. This is trivia about different aspects of college or a career field to help students learn a little more about a topic. To answer these trivia questions, students are to go down to the office with their answers and they will be placed into a drawing of a prize. This makes the learning useful and fun for students.
Another way to celebrate is college wear Wednesday. Every Wednesday of this month students and staff are asked to wear any sort of college wear. This could be a college you are planning to attend, a college your parents attended, a college you like, or really anything else. The point of this is to show spirit and maybe even show what your future looks like.
A lot of students do not know where to start when thinking about their futures. This can be stressful for some students to think about, aspects needed like, applying to schools, creating your FAFSA, applying for scholarships, and so much more. Take it one step at a time. Not everything needs to be done quickly. Think about what you want in a school, size, major, and how much you are willing to pay.
To get help or to make a plan about your future you can talk to any of the school counselors, Frye, Jessica Hatland, or Katelyn Flatness. If you need help figuring out what counselor is yours, talk to Cynthia Manuel in the front office. These counselors are looking out for the best interest of students, making sure they know how to proceed in their future. Doing what you love, and going to a school that makes you happy can be worth it in the end.