A Note to Parents & Families  

Greetings Parents and Families of Senior Students,

I hope this letter finds you well!

To begin, I want to first congratulate your students for their hard work and dedication they have put forth throughout the duration of their time high school careers that has led them up until this very point. As they enter into this last year, it's important for them to begin considering post-secondary options beyond the confines of this great high school. This is where I come in!

My name is Taína Santana and I have the esteemed pleasure of serving as the new College Adviser for First Flight & Cape Hatteras this academic year. I am a proud alumnus of First Flight High School as of 2019. I am also a recent alum of the Illustrious University of Virginia where I double majored in Global Studies Security & Justice, Women Gender & Sexuality Studies & a minor in Sociology I am elated to embark on this journey with you all. 

I am very familiar with the school, the culture and the rich tradition my alma mater has and that's what ignites me as I serve in this role. I recollect being in your students' shoes, going from one facet of life to another as my senior year progressed. Everything is evolving, things seem confusing and very overwhelming. I want to empathize with your students and provide them the reassurance they need that things will work out how they should!

As your students' college adviser, it's my job to be an advocate for your students' desires and needs when it comes to their post-secondary needs. The common misconception is that I will only be focusing on the college going culture. While this is true, I am able to cater to students who feel college may not be their desired route. Overall, my job is to ensure students are secured in where they want to be after they graduate high school. I have a passion for serving students and seeing them succeed beyond measurement! 

As the year goes on, I want to express my excitement about connecting with you all and of course your students. Your students' success is vital and I won't be able to accomplish these tasks without your help! Overtime, you will get to know more about specifics like RDS, FAFSA, Scholarships, College Applications, SAT/ACT, Essays, Resumes and more! Over the course of 

the year, we will set up meetings so these terms can make more sense to you! I will be in communication with you all to give you updates about all the things I have planned for the year. We’re all in this together! Let's make this a great and prosperous year!

If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please feel free to schedule an appointment with me, or reach out via email, call or text. I look forward to a great year ahead! 

Best,

Taína Santana

College Adviser

Contact Information

Email: taina@unc.edu

Phone Number: (252) 564-9442