ACT/ SAT Score Submissions

Yesterday, I talked about the practice college admissions tests, but for seniors what you need to be focused on related to the ACT/ SAT is slightly different.  You have to determine if you are sending your results to your colleges and, if so, to arrange to send your scores.  

Please remember that the vast majority of the colleges want to receive the score results directly from the testing agencies. You receive the option to send your scores to 4 colleges for free when you are registering for the test and there is an additional charge for any extra schools you want to send your results to after those initial four.  Please be sure to take advantage of selecting 4 colleges with those free submission options when registering for the tests.

You can log in to the ACT and SAT websites to review the locations where you selected to send your scores to make sure that every college you are considering has received a copy of your scores.  And it is also directly on the ACT and SAT websites where you can pay to have your scores sent to additional colleges if needed.

Practice Testing Reminders

Tomorrow morning "green day" students who have signed up will be taking the PSAT.  I posted reminders a few weeks ago when the "blue day" students were taking the PSAT.  Here is a link back to those reminders for any students who are testing tomorrow.

I also want to remind all of my sophomores and juniors that you have the option of taking the Pre-ACT which is the practice ACT on either November 17th or 18th.  There is a charge for the test which is $14 and that can be paid on My Payments Plus.  You will sign up for which date you prefer using the Google Form on the WKHS Counselor Website - www.wkhscounselors.com.

For what it is worth, November 18th is the blue day and if you need transportation to and from school, then that is the day you will need to select for testing.  If you have your own transportation (to school at 7:30am and home after the test at 11:30am) then you can register to test on November 17th so that you don't have to miss class.

I can't stress enough how strongly I suggest students take the Pre-ACT because you will be taking the actual ACT in your junior year and having a chance to get a feel for the types of questions and the pace required to get through the whole test in the time allowed.  

If you have questions about testing plans, don't hesitate to let me know!

Transcript Request Form

Seniors, as you get ready to submit your applications, don't forget that you will need to request your transcript for every college where you are applying.  You will do this using the Google Form on the WKHS Counselor Website. 

As you make progress with your applications, you can request your transcript at any point.  Sometimes students think that you have to wait until you have applied to request your transcript and that is not true.  In fact, as long as you have determined that you are definitely applying to a college, then it is fine to go ahead and request your transcript.  When you are applying through Common App, I will upload your transcript and it will be sent to your college automatically when you submit the rest of your application.  If you are applying through a non-Common App college then it will be sent electronically through a separate transcript program when you submit the request to us.

I know there are still a handful of my students who have invited me on Common App, but haven't submitted their transcript request form so if you aren't sure, please double check on your own Common App account because I am current on all of my Common App paperwork.

College Fairs

The College Fairs sponsored by the Ohio Association of College Admissions Counselors resumes today and runs through November 13th.  There are a range of colleges that are offering college fair experiences virtually each day and they are not just Ohio colleges.  

And the final National Association of College Admissions Counselors virtual college fair is November 8th from 2:00-10:00pm.  

If you are interested in participating in the college fairs, you need to register for them in advance.

Ohio College Fair (not just Ohio colleges!): https://oacac.org/student-registration/

National College Fair: https://virtualcollegefairs.org/

With all things COVID, it is hard to explore colleges across the state and country so please try to take advantage of opportunities like these college fairs as a way to learn more and to find the colleges that will be the best fit for you in the future.

End of Quarter

Friday is the end of the 1st quarter.  What does that mean to you?  It means that this is the final week to push yourself to finish the quarter strong.  

Your quarter grade is what will determine your eligibility for extra-curricular competition in the next quarter which means that for anyone who is still competing in fall sports or planning to participate in winter sports (or competitive groups like Mock Trial, etc.) then you will need to be passing at least 5 half-credit classes.  Being eligibile is an additional advantage on top of being proud of your grades earned.

It is important to remember that the semester grade is what will earn you credit for the class.  Your semester grade will be a combination of your first and second quarter grades plus your exam grade.  So, your first quarter grade is a mid-way mark to check in on your own progress so far.  As a result, I want to remind you that even if you aren't able to get your grade up to as high of a percentage as you would like to have, all hope is not lost!  

My biggest reminder is that every point counts so please work hard to dedicate yourself to your grades this week!

Judgment

I came across this story and it got to me so I wanted to share it with you too...

A young couple moved into a new neighborhood.

The next morning while they were eating breakfast, the young woman saw her neighbor hanging the wash outside.

"That laundry is not very clean; she doesn’t know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap."

Her husband looked on, remaining silent.

Every time her neighbor hung her washings out to dry, the young woman made the same comments.

A month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband, "Look, she’s finally learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this?"

The husband replied, "I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows."

Remember… the quickest way to stop judging someone is to look at yourself and ask, who am I to judge…

Isn't that the truth?!  It can be so easy to ask ourselves "who does that?" or "what are they thinking" or "why would/ wouldn't they do that?" But the reality is I believe most people are doing the best they can in the circumstances.  It might not be what they would like to be doing either, but someone else judging them isn't particularly helpful or healing.  So right now, when stress levels are already so high, try to pause and be patient with those around you.  I know it can be hard, but maybe it is less about them and more about you... or at least that is my personal reflection that it is definitely less about them and more about me needing to adjust.

Good Luck!

This year is so strange related to not being able to go and watch my students compete in sports.  I am sure many of you feel the same way as you are missing out on being able to watch and cheer on your friends in their various athletic events.  

One of WKHS's freshmen students, Elizabeth Alderman, has qualified for the State Championships in tennis!  Libby is among the top 16 girls in the state and she will compete starting tomorrow and the championships will end on Saturday down in Cincinnati.  This is a HUGE accomplishment to qualify for states - especially as a freshman.

Good luck to all of the other teams that will be starting or continuing their tournament runs this weekend.  So many of you are getting some well deserved attention and even though you miss the student sections to be cheering you on, please know that many people, myself included, are cheering you on from afar.

School Pictures

Just a quick reminder that school pictures will be taken during your classes/ off periods over the next 2 days.  Green day students will have their pictures taken during the day tomorrow and Blue day students will have their pictures taken on Friday.  So dress in the clothes you want to wear, make sure your hair looks good, and smile pretty!

Hybrid Helpfulness

It's interesting to see and hear the varying perspectives of students and how they feel about the hybrid learning format.  Recently I have heard a lot of students being grateful for this set up because they are thankful that they aren't in school every day and have the social distancing, but still get to see their peers and learn directly from their teachers.  For me though, I have been watching grades and I have to tell you that I am getting concerned as we draw near the end of the 1st quarter.  It worries me that so many students appear to be struggling to stay focused during your "at home" learning days.  I know that this is a change in format and perhaps it wouldn't be your first choice of how school would happen, but I want to remind you that there are some really helpful aspects of hybrid in preparing you for your future.

When you get to college, most of your classes will meet 2-3 days a week and you will have the rest of your week to work on your course content independently.  This is just like what you are doing with hybrid.  The ability to learn how to manage your time now, while you are still at home with the support of your parents and the free education vs when you are in college and you have to pay for your classes and your grades have even higher stakes, is such a gift.  For juniors and seniors especially, this is the time to be thinking about how you are taking ownership over your education and balancing your commitments so that you can learn effectively.  If, for example, you are struggling to focus when you are trying to read your textbook (which will happen in college at times too) then what are some strategies that you can try out to help you push through that block?  Perhaps it is switching to a different area for doing your studying/ reading.  That is definitely a common answer I hear from a lot of college students as they realize that they couldn't always study well in their dorm rooms because of the distractions present and so they had to go to a study room, the library, or a coffee shop.  You can do that too.  If you are struggling to keep on top of what all needs to be done in a day or a week, then this is a great time to experiment with different assignment tracking styles.  Maybe that is writing the assignments down on a dry erase board by date, keeping a to-do list, using a planner or app, or setting reminders on your phone, but there are countless ways that you can work to learn how to stay on top of the requirements for your classes.  Aside from losing focus or not knowing or forgetting what needs to be done for classes, the other big challenge I hear from students related to hybrid has been lack of motivation.  My feedback on the lack of motivation is probably not what you'll expect... but stop searching for the motivation.  Just start building in the discipline to get it done.  Having the self-discipline to get things done is easier to find than the motivation.  You are not always going to feel like doing your homework for class, but you still need to do it.  So rather than having the emotional battle within yourself just acknowledge that you don't really WANT to do it, but that you NEED to do it and then just suck it up and push through.  Usually, what most students will find is that the more you rely on the self-discipline to get things done the easier that process will become and often the motivation will follow because you will WANT to get the work over with so that you can do other things that you'd prefer to do later.  (And you won't do those other things first because you have cultivated that self-discipline to take care of the need to do's before the want to do's.)

Reframing the challenges of hybrid to think of how it is training you to be better prepared for college is a great way to be looking at this year.  I realize that college still feels a long ways away, but it will go fast and taking responsibility for your education now in high school will pay off for you in the long run when you have already learned how to manage these responsibilities before college!

Rapid Assist Time Reminder

I wanted to remind you that every Tuesday from 1:30-2:30pm I am on zoom for Rapid Assist Time to meet with any of my students who have questions, need help or want to chat.  We can, of course, set up individual meeting times during any of your "at home" learning days, but I know that so many times students think, "oh this is just a quick question so I will just wait and catch Miss Abbott tomorrow" and then you try to stop by and I'm meeting with someone else and you don't always get to have that chance to meet with me the way you might have liked.  So that is why I am making sure that I have this hour built into every week for students to pop in and connect with me.  There is a waiting room so if someone else is talking to me you might have to wait a few minutes, but I can tell you in the last few weeks I have only had 2 students take advantage of this Rapid Assist Time.  The zoom link for the Rapid Assist Time is the same for all of the counselors (they just have their Rapid Assist Time on different days) so you can find the link on your Schoology page.  I really hope that I will get to connect with some of you tomorrow between 1:30-2:30pm!

Deadlines

Deadlines are real! Often times I worry that the tendency we have in high school to set a deadline and then extend it or accept late materials sets up a pattern for students that can be a major problem when it comes to college applications and the rest of the world. The reality is that outside of high school, deadlines are real. If they say you need to have something done by a particular day, then it is essential that you have it done by that day. College applications and financial aid forms fit into this strict rule so this is your friendly reminder to watch your deadlines!

Today we are officially 2 weeks away from November 1st.  While a handful of colleges had deadlines of October 15th, the majority of college deadlines are November 1st or later.  And their application deadline may be later, but don't forget that if you are a candidate for scholarships that you will want to be sure that you apply by their scholarship deadline which could be earlier than their application deadline.  The challenge is that every school sets their own requirements and so it is really important that you stay organized and submit all application materials to colleges prior to their designated deadlines.

The colleges often talk about how most applications come in during the last 3 days before the deadline with a huge number being submitted on the final day and even in the last few hours before the clock strikes midnight.  All I can say to you is please don't do that to yourself!  You don't need to add that stress to your life.  You can see the deadline coming.  Plan ahead and get working on your applications now because I promise you these next two weeks are going to pass in a blur.

If you are having trouble figuring out any of your college's deadlines when you are looking at their website or at Common App then please stop to see me and we can try to look it up together.
 

Pre-ACT

The Pre-ACT is the practice test for the ACT. This test is an option for sophomores or juniors.  The content of the Pre-ACT is closely tied to that of the ACT achievement test, which is used for college entrance and placement decisions. It covers the same subjects and gives you estimated ACT scores.

The Pre-ACT has many benefits. It can help you get started in thinking about and planning for life after high school. It will show you areas where you may want to seek extra help. The results can also be used to help focus your test preparation to improve your ACT scores. Additionally, one of the other valuable aspects is that the Pre-ACT test includes a career component that helps identify career interests and possible career fields. For all of the students who have no idea what they might want to do some day this is one way to help you generate some possible ideas.

The test will be held on November 17th and November 18th.  Only 100 students can test each day.  By default, green students will test on the 17th and blue students will test on the 18th.  However, we know that it is a challenge to miss more class time, so, those students who can provide their own transportation to school at 7:30am and home after the test around 11:30am will have the option to test on their non-class day.  Students can register for the test beginning on Monday through My Payments Plus.  The cost for the test is $14.

With all WKHS juniors taking the ACT in February and most WKHS students taking the ACT more than once as their college admissions test, this is a great opportunity for you to get a feel for what the ACT questions and format will be and to understand your anticipated scores.

As always, if you have questions, please let me know!

Journaling

I love this picture.  That could be me… when I am stressed, upset, or struggling with something in my life I often feel so full of the intensity of the emotion and then, if I actually do what I know is good for me and pause and journal, that tension leaves me and is on the paper instead.

Do you journal?  I don’t always do what that type of journaling is portraying, but I do journal daily in short versions.  I truly started journaling 5 years ago when my sister gave me a question-a-day journal that has just a few lines to respond to a random question for the day and it has room for 5 years worth of answers.  I love answering and then looking back at what I had said for the previous years.  It only has a few lines so there isn’t much room for me to write and that works well for me – but I do often jot down notes about what else is happening if it was something really significant in my day.  And then this past Christmas my sister gave me a gratitude journal where I literally am asked to write 3 things I am grateful for each day.  So now I do both of those every day.  And I love them.  But those journals aren’t really the emotional release types of writing that I’d like to talk about.

Last weekend was tough for me.  I was feeling depleted, overwhelmed and sad.  My head was spinning.  I woke up in the middle of the night and couldn’t go back to sleep.  It happens to all of us sometimes – those feelings where everything seems like it is coming at you all at once.  And so, for me, I know that those are the times I need to write.  I need to pause on what my “to do list” says should happen and focus on what I personally “need” to do.  If I am not in a good mental head space then I am not going to be productive at doing anything else.  And so, in moments like that, I write.  And believe me, I wrote, and wrote, and wrote some more this weekend.  And I felt better!  Did it make my concerns go away? No.  Did it make it feel less like they were controlling me?  Yes.  That is the beauty of writing things down.  Neurologically it doesn’t matter what you do with what you write down – you can write it down on the back of a napkin and throw it out – but your brain thinks, “OK, I have taken note of that, so I don’t have to focus on remembering it any more right now.”  That ability to then free my brain from thinking of it gives me the space to take care of me and get into a better place.  Research would tell us that the same would happen for you too.

So why don’t we all write things down more often about how we are feeling and struggles we are facing?  I think some people think the idea of journaling sounds formal and official.  Others worry that someone will find it or read it.  And yet if I really think about why most students tell me that they don’t write it out when they are stressed or struggling – the excuse is either “I didn’t think about it” or “I don’t have time.”  So this is me trying to remind you to think about it.  Give it a try when you are feeling stressed.  And for the “I don’t have time argument,” I can promise you that the time you spend trying to get your brain to focus on what you “should” be doing while your brain is still focused on the stress you are experiencing is going to be way longer than if you would just pause, write out what you’re feeling and then move on from there.

I know that life is really stressful right now.  There is no doubt about that.  You have me in your corner and I care about and believe in you, but for those moments when you are trying to find even a slice of control over how you are thinking and feeling when everything is feeling very out of control… try journaling.  Just write.  Don’t think too much about it.  Just write.  It doesn’t matter what you say or how you start – just write!

I hope you have a relaxing, safe and peaceful long weekend.  (And if it isn’t, I hope you will be able to create some peace in your heart and mind through your coping strategies such as journaling.)

College Costs - Public vs Private

One of the topics that always comes up when talking about colleges is the affordability (or lack thereof) of colleges.

Lots of students are scared away by the costs of private schools and do not even consider them as reasonable alternatives – even if the college has all of the features that they are looking for in a school. Please don’t automatically rule them out… Look for the right school first and then worry about the costs and determining if it is going to be a viable option later. The reason I say that is that the data shows that the total difference in college debt between a public and private Ohio college from the time they entered to the time they completed their bachelor's degree only ended up being between $1,000 - 5,000.  Nationally, the difference is about $5,500. Yes, I know that is still a lot of money, but in the whole scheme of things it really isn’t and so completely eliminating a school from consideration that you might really like because the initial cost seems too high just isn't worth it.  Now, that being said, if you found that the actual costs to attend were significantly different then at the time when you are comparing actual financial aid awards to one another you will be in a position to make an educated choice about what is the right college for you - costs and all.  Part of the reason that some students may elect to take on a potentially higher cost of a private college is that the 4 year graduation rates at those schools can be significantly higher than the rates at some of the public colleges.  Ultimately there is a lot to compare.

Debt is a very real problem and something all students need to keep in mind, but remember, college is an investment in your future so while it is important to make informed and educated decisions, try not to let the numbers completely panic you.

And in case you were curious… here’s the specific data and the source: According to The Project on Student Debt – The average student loan debt for seniors graduating from Ohio colleges and universities in 2019 was $29,886.

PSAT Reminders

Don't forget - tomorrow is the first day when Kilbourne sophomores and juniors, as well as many other students around the country, will take the PSAT.  

If you are one of the 100 "blue day" students who will be taking the PSAT, you will report directly to the gymnasiums when you arrive to school on Wednesday morning.  Check in begins at 7:15am and you will need to be wearing your mask and bring your student id with you in order to check in.  (If you don't have an ID - school, drivers license, etc. then we will be working to identify you through other means.)  You will go directly to your assigned seat for check-in and we will check you in from there.  Please plan on leaving your book bag and your cell phone (turned off) in the back of the gym.

You will also need to bring number 2 pencils (no mechanical pencils allowed), a calculator, an eraser, and I would recommend a watch.  (Obviously, you cannot use your phones or the like for timing.)  The test will begin promptly at 7:45 and you will finish testing during 4th period.

Remember, you won't be able to have water at your table.  As you know, the temperature in the building varies greatly.  So because we don't know what to expect in the gym, I strongly encourage that you dress in layers so that you can add a sweatshirt or take it off depending on how hot or cold you might be during testing.

For all the rest of my students, we were able to adjust the plans so that I will still be available to meet with you tomorrow!  I will only be helping during the check-in and to give the proctors breaks during the PSAT tomorrow, so that I can be available to meet with you.

College Interviews

Some colleges require all prospective students to participate in an interview with an admissions counselor or an alumni representative as a component of the application process and others will recommend it. If you are applying to a school which wants to have you participate in an interview – don’t panic!

It is important to relax and be yourself. This is your opportunity to shine. Display your personality and allow your interests and passions to be expressed.

In these times of COVID, it is highly likely that your interview will be done virtually - even if it is with an alumni member who might live here locally.  When you are talking to them, in addition to answering their questions, don’t be afraid to ask any questions you have about the school. Be sure to complete some research ahead of time so that you are not asking questions you easily could have found by visiting their website.

If there is anything about yourself that you want to be sure that the admissions representatives understand – unique circumstances, experiences, or special traits that they might not ask about don’t hesitate to offer up this information. This is your one opportunity to actually discuss these areas with a real person. By bringing up these topics, it may spur them to ask additional questions that you will be able to answer.

If you are looking for ideas about what the admissions representatives could possibly ask you or what you could ask them, please be sure to check out the counselor website for more information/ suggestions.

And, hopefully it goes without saying, but remember that first impressions are important – so be polite, smile, dress appropriately and login on time for your interview!

For the Parents

Most of the time when I am writing this blog I am aiming my message at my students (even though I know that parents often read it as much if not more than students).  Today is different though.  Students, you can hit delete.  :-)  Parents, I ask you to keep reading...

This is a stressful world we live in and parenting is overwhelming to say the least.  I often hear parents say, "they had books on What to expect when you're expecting but none of those books talk about the difficulties of raising teenagers in our world today."  And each person who mentions this is absolutely correct.  In large part because your son/ daughter has so much more influence and say over his/ her own choices and it isn't all about what you do to raise them.

This reality comes into striking clarity when it comes to the college application time.  Making decisions about where a student should apply (or not apply), what their activities and experiences are that they are doing during high school which contribute to that college application, and what they will study and become in the future - all of it is stressful for parents and for students.

Even when they say that they don't need you - they do!  But know that the support that your son/ daughter needs right now is about helping them through the process and not taking over for them.  If you step in and take the lead then your kids will think that you don't believe they are capable of making these decisions for themselves.  And, of course they can't make them in isolation, but rather than telling them where they will apply, talk it through with them.  Ask LOTS of questions.  Have you considered x college? What do you find most appealing about y college?  How do you think z college would feel if you were that far from home?  You get the picture.  Ask a lot and listen to their feedback.  And yes, sometimes you will have to stick your foot down and say things like, "I know you only want to apply to colleges out of state, but you need to have a few colleges in Ohio that you would also like in case it makes a difference with the financial aid you receive."  Or whatever that tough conversation needs to look like in your family.

I think all too often it feels as if parents are trying to live vicariously through their kids lives and the students push back on this SO MUCH!  So as much as you can, please try to remind yourself that these choices are for your son/ daughter's future and while this is a big choice, where they apply (or don't apply) is rarely going to be an actual disaster.  Most of the time, students are willing to apply to at least 1-2 colleges their parents want on the list even if the others wouldn't be your preference.

I also read this article and I am going to pull out a little bit of the information for you to read because I think it is incredibly important and relevant.  

"The college admittance process has become a proxy evaluation on modern parenting and it’s hard for me to feel not so good about my own parenting track record when I see smiling faces on Division 1 Commitment Day photos or the Facebook video of a rock star student opening up an email for early action admittance to his or her top-drawer school of choice.

But that? That’s about me, and this process is about my sons. Where and if either goes to college, and how they do when they get there, these are not indications of my parenting ability. I haven’t failed them if they enroll in community college or a trade school. This is about the next, right step for my older two sons on the path to self-sustaining adulthood. And there are many, many ways to get there."

Totally true, isn't it!?!  I don't know when things changed in our society, but it feels as if there is such a competition and over-sharing of information that everyone feels as if they are being compared to everyone else.  Exhausting!  You have done a great job raising your kids!  I know that every day when I am at school and have the privilige to work with such awesome people.  They are kind, engaging, smart, and talented.  They have big futures ahead - no matter what they choose for their career and where they go to college as their next step in that future.  Please, please, please, do NOT let their future decisions and accomplishments feel as if it is about you and your successes or failures.  Not only because that would be overwhelming and frustrating for you as a parent to feel all of that pressure, but also because your son/ daughter will inherently feel that pressure too and none of you need or deserve that!

So what can you be doing right now?  Talk with your child about what is a reasonable check in frequency for talking about their progress in the college application process.  At least 1 per week should be a good gauge as long as they are making consistent progress.  If they are stuck, they are going to need your help in breaking things down into more manageable steps.  (They can also come see me or zoom with me too and I am happy to help with breaking down their applications into smaller steps.)  And also listen.  When you talk to them, listen to what they have to say and keep encouraging them.  These are a few stressful weeks/ months in their lives and they definitely need you more than they are likely going to say.

Here are some other articles for parents that I also thought might be interesting to you:

These are the words your teen applying to college needs to hear from you

College applications: what I’ve learned as a parent the 2^nd time around

 

Parent Guide to Resilience

And finally, don't forget, tomorrow night from 3:30-7:30pm and Wednesday night from 5-9pm are Parent/ Teacher Conferences virtually.  If your son/ daughter is not doing well academically, all of that college stress needs to be focused first and foremost on passing their current classes.  You should have received an email last week about signing up for conferences, but don't miss out on this chance for you and your son/ daughter to zoom together (if possible) with their teacher and discuss their progress in class!

Career Dreams

Last week I had the Question of the Day asking what job you wanted to have when you were little.  I loved all of the different answers I heard in response which included everything from working at McDonalds to being a professional athlete to working in a lab and lots of other ideas. Chances are that now that you are in high school you have started re-thinking some of your potential career choices. While there is still a lot of uncertainty and, if the statistics are accurate, you will, in all likelihood, change career paths in the future, it is time to start figuring out what you MIGHT like to be when you grow up.

I *know* you hate it when adults say this, but the reality is that you need to know yourself and what matters to you. If you love what you do and you are willing to work hard then you will be able to find success. Everyone has their own unique gifts and talents and it is imperative that you determine what career will best meet your needs. This means you have to figure out what is important to you and how you can incorporate that into your life. 

For example, for those who love sports it can be hard to imagine life without athletics and, many times, these individuals will pick (at least initially) careers that involve sports - athletic training, sports management, sports marketing, etc. This might be the perfect combination - or maybe not. Knowing yourself and knowing what you have a passion for is important in determining what characteristics of a job will be best suited for you. In this example, the sports minded person might pick a career that involves teamwork where groups of people work closely together to reach a common goal. Or, if you decide that you are not going to be able to fulfill one of your life's passions through your career, then it is important that you still honor that influence in some other way - perhaps playing on an adult recreational team or coaching a youth sport team. While this example deals with sports the same concept applies to any of your interests and passions - art, music, learning.

So, while I am not asking you to abandon your dreams of fame and fortune as the professional athlete, superhero, or yes, even McDonald's employee, I am asking you to start thinking seriously about what will make you happy, what is important to you, and how a career can help meet your needs and goals in life. 

Choose Your Bottom

I'm sure you have heard the phrases about people hitting rock bottom.  And most of the time when I hear people talking about getting to those low places in their life they speak of it as if they can't get any worse.  Nothing else could go wrong beyond what has already happened.  And then, at that point, they are ready to make a change.

Here is the reality... for some people, that is absolutely how this has to work because many of us (1) don't like change, (2) find comfort in the familiar even if it is all falling apart around us, and (3) don't want to admit that we are struggling.

But the good news is that this does NOT have to be the way it works!  We all have the power to pick our bottom.  To say, this is as low as I can let myself go or get.  Know though, that making this change will require ACTION and COURAGE!  But, you have that inside of you and you CAN do this!  You can decide that enough is enough and that you are ready to make changes any time you want.  

I don't know about you, but I think that is a really encouraging thought.  I like control and being able to take some sense of control over my own life is a helpful thought for me.  But, that is also when fear and complacency can set in because if I want this to be the lowest that I get in my life then I am going to have to DO something DIFFERENT!  This might mean making different choices.  It could mean asking for help.  Perhaps it means spending time with new people.  Everyone's circumstances and areas of concern are different, but by digging deep inside yourself to find the courage to take action, change is possible and your life and the challenges you are facing can improve.

And, in case you are out there reading this and thinking, "that sounds nice Miss Abbott, but, no, I can't fix the fact that my mom is sick or my grandpa died."  And you are right.  There are absolutely heart-breaking events that will always cross our paths.  This is a part of life and it is not fair and it is hard, but you can get through even those difficult days by finding ways to take better care of yourself, by learning new coping strategies, by sharing your sadness with others so you aren't left feeling quite so alone in it all.

So my question for you today is how much lower do you need to go before you decide to make a change?  I know it can be scary to try something new or to admit that you need help, but the benefits can be beyond what you could imagine.  For example, I watched a video last weekend which included a high school boy who was really struggling in some of his classes.  He didn't like most of his teachers and he was challenged to do something new and different.  He was asked by one of his mentors to pick out the class where he was struggling the most, where he didn't feel connected to the teacher and to walk up to that teacher and say that he was struggling and didn't feel connected to the class or the teacher and that he wanted to change it.  I was floored as I heard this awkwardly phrased conversation play out.  But the reality is the boy said that being real and honest with his teacher had changed everything and now if he had problems in any class or with stuff outside of school he knew that he could always go to that teacher and that he was now one of his favorite people and biggest supporters in his life.  All because he had the COURAGE to take ACTION and make a CHANGE.  He decided that he was done with his classes and grades getting worse so he established his bottom and he did something different.  Never doubt that you can do that too!

It's helpful to keep in mind that no matter how low your bottom might be, once you are at your bottom, there is nowhere to go but up.  And if you are needing help or support in that climb back up, remember that I am here for you!

Important Reminders

I wanted to make sure that all of you were aware that the last date to drop a 1st semester course without having it appear on your transcript this coming Monday, October 12th. That is also the last date to submit a request to have a 1st semester class graded on a pass/ fail scale instead of the standard scoring. Please make sure that your requests for these options are turned into the counseling center before the school day ends on the 12th.

I also wanted to give you and your parents a heads up that Parent/ Teacher Conferences are coming up next week.  Conferences will all be completed virtually so I strongly encourage students to participate in the conference meetings along with your parents.  You can help your mom/ dad/ guardian log in through zoom to meet with your teacher in this virtual setting and talk about your progress in classes so far, your goals, your struggles, and seek suggestions for making sure you make the most out of every day in your classes.  Conferences will be on Monday from 3:30-7:30pm and on Wednesday from 5-9pm.  Your parents will receive information from the administrators about how to sign up for conferences.

Junior Planning for College Night

Save the date!  Next week, on Monday, October 12th and on Wednesday, October 14th the WKHS Counseling department will be hosting a virtual Junior Student and Parent College Planning Information Night. The presentations will be the same on both evenings in order to try to give students and parents options about which meeting will work best with your schedule.  This is one of the most important nights we provide and students and parents who attended this meeting in the past have expressed how much this helped them get started and move forward with the college search process and developed a better understanding of what to expect along the way.  Topics that will be covered include searching for colleges, exploring careers, ACT/ SAT and testing plans, making college visits, how colleges evaluate applicants, what you can be doing now to prepare for college applications and so much more. The zoom meeting link will be emailed to students and parents and posted on Schoology later this week.  The Monday, October 12th meeting will be at 6:00pm and the Wednesday, October 14th meeting is at 7:00pm. 

I hope you will plan to virtually attend! And yes, I want you to watch with your parents and no, I don't want you to just make your parents watch instead... this is YOUR future and you are responsible for deciding what direction you will take.

Recommendation Letters

Well, here we are... exactly 4 weeks until many of the seniors will be hitting their first deadline for college applications.  (Please be aware though that there are MANY colleges that have earlier deadlines than November 1st so be sure to check the deadlines for your intended colleges.)

One month out is a key time to check in on where you are with your applications and especially with your recommendation letters.  I talked about rec letters and the importance of double checking to see if your desired colleges require them or not a few weeks ago so I will not go through all of that again.  However, I do want to remind you that you need to give your teachers or me 30 days to write your recommendation letters.  So, that means that if I do not already have your Counselor Recommendation Supplement Form and your Parent Brag Sheet, then I need those from you ASAP!  The same would go for your core teachers who you have asked to write a letter on your behalf.  There is a teacher recommendation letter form that you should have given to them already, but if you haven't, then please make sure you take care of that TOMORROW when you are in the building!

Each of these forms can be found on the Counselor Website or on the bookshelf in the front of the Counseling Center.

Hopefully you are also reaching the editing stages of your college essays.  This, like recommendation letters, takes time.  So, don't short change yourself by putting this off until the last possible moment.  You will want to read through and edit your essay a few times before you start getting feedback from others.  Remember that I am willing to review your essays as is Mrs. Elliott in 209 and your English teachers.  But just like with recommendation letters, because the essay revision process takes time for your English teachers to give you feedback, you will want to make sure that you are giving them plenty of time.  That will then allow you to take their input, make adjustments as needed, and seek more edit suggestions so that you are ultimately submitting the best representation of YOU to the college that you can with your essay.

This month is going to go by FAST!  So please, don't hesitate to let me know if you need any help or support.

Lots of Articles

I keep a running list of articles that I think would be good to share with students and parents in a word document.  I have been trying to post some of the articles with various blogs and it has been successful in getting me from 11 pages down to 8 pages of articles, but the reality is that all of these articles have interesting topics and helpful tips and they aren't doing you any good if they are just saved on my computer.  So, its the weekend and perhaps you are looking for an educational diversion or maybe you will want to save this post to look at on your independent learning days to scroll through the list and see which ones might resonate with you... but here is a long list of articles on a wide range of topics.  Happy reading!

College essay - More Ways to Say Why

FAFSA opens Oct 1 and it's more important than ever to apply ASAP

Uncomfortably Comfortable Owning the Admissions Process

College Virtual Tours - compiled by Rebecca Chabrow, M.A. with assistance from Collegewise

Letters of Recommendation for College

College Advice Getting Great Recommendations

Before you yell at your school counselor

Perfect ACT Score Stories

Don't make these common errors on the FAFSA

Colleges that meet full need

10 Certificate programs that pay well

10 Sites to Kick off your Scholarship Search

5 Myths about athletic scholarships

Financial Aid Appeal Letter

Colleges can revoke admissions offers

Extracurricular Activities during Pandemic

The truth about extracurricular activities and highly selective colleges

Science of Learning: Marijuana, Achievement and the Teen Brain

Learning Mindfulness Centered on kindness to oneself and others

Biofeedback to calm your brain

Breathing Techniques

How making kindness a priority benefits kids

12 strategies for building resilience

 

How to change your habits one mindful moment at a time

Easy thing you can do to get a happier brain right now – (Please note that some of these are not feasible options to use with Coronavirus)

Feeling Insecure?  6 tips to quiet negative thoughts

 

8 ways you’re making your anxiety worse

How to help your anxious brain focus

 

FAFSA

The FAFSA opens today (October 1st).  The government and colleges have moved FAFSA's opening date and due dates up in order to give students and families more time to be able to have their financial aid offers and consider the implications when making the decision about which college will be the best fit financially.  The FAFSA for current high school seniors will be based upon the 2019 tax returns.  You can access the FAFSA here:  https://fafsa.ed.gov/

When students and parents are completing the FAFSA, you will each need to have an FSAID number.  This number will allow you to electronically sign your FAFSA and in the future it would let you sign promissory notes as well as complete future FAFSA's.

The student and parent will each create their own separate numbers.  You cannot use the same e-mail addresses for the creation of the numbers so if you don't have an e-mail address and have been using your parents e-mail in the past then this is the ideal time to create your own e-mail account.

You will make your own challenge questions to help you access your number if you forget it in the future so it is important to write down those challenge questions and answers to make sure you will remember it down the road.  I recommend that students and parents make a folder related to FAFSA where you store all of this information so that you will always have it when you might need it.

If you forget to create an FSAID number prior to completing your FAFSA, it will still have a link for you to be able to go back and create one, but ideally you should create it ahead of time.

Here is a link to create your FSAID numbers:  https://fsaid.ed.gov/npas/index.htm

To help you with the college financial aid process we typically host a Financial Aid Meeting, but in light of COVID that isn't possible this year.  We are fortunate enough though that Faith Phillips, a financial aid director for OSU Newark and COTC, and our typical guest presenter was still willing to share her expertise with our parents and students.  She graciously agreed to create a video about the FAFSA that will help you in completing your financial aid application and we have posted it on the Counselor Website for you to access starting today!