Prepping for College

                                          Prepping for College 

                                                By: Ashley Nestor

Each year, students embark on the start to their new journey. The road to college is a stressful, terrifying, yet exciting new experience. With new faces, buildings, and food that many students may find intimidating. From long class hours, to final exams, college life is highly stressful…What can we do to help?

Well, teachers already have this concept in mind. They are taught to prepare students for this huge jump from high school to college. To guide them through this new chapter of their lives.

Academic expectations for one, are very important and teachers present these in a very straight forward way. Teachers will push you to be better, to get a better grade, to try harder. In college, your work will increase, and it will be important that you have that motivation for yourself. Micheal Shmedicke, a Liverpool High School Human Anatomy teacher, stated that he likes to, “have kids work by themselves, so they get a feel for what the future will be like.” By thinking back to high school years, you will remember how important it was to find ways to accomplish something on your own because it will benefit you in the end.

Time management is a crucial part of preparing for college as well. You will need to learn how to set aside certain optional activities for necessities. Planning is a big part of this. A calendar, or a notes app can be very beneficial towards keeping a clean schedule. College life will be jam packed with activities, and classes, so you will need to make sure you can manage your time appropriately according to your schedule that day.

To understand college life to the fullest, college visits and campus tours are crucial. You would be able to get a feel for how life would change. There would be no more living with family, and you may get a feeling of being isolated. These are things you will need to take into consideration…Are you okay with being two hours away from home? Or do you want something closer? You will need to prepare yourself for these type of decisions.

Kelly Franz, a Liverpool High School English teacher is determined to get students into the place they need to be. She expects people to be good readers, writers, and thinkers as they head to college. She states that students need to “make sure they have a deeper appreciation for learning a new skill.” If you don’t have appreciation for trying to improve, you won’t go very far. Learning new skills, and tactics will turn you into the person you strive to be in the future.

Prepping for college is a very stressful time. Senior year is the year before you set off to be an adult. You will have to start being independent, and figure out new skills on your own. College will be extremely easier if you pay attention in class, and interpret what your teachers are telling you because it will benefit you massively in the future. Heading off to college is intimidating, but the skills you learn in High School will shift into college, and get you fully prepared.