The Countdown

The countdown is on... we have just 12 days of school left before semester exams. I *know* some (or maybe all) of you don't want to hear this, but it is REALLY important that you start studying now for exams. 

With exams taking place before winter break, it is important that you take a critical look at where you stand in each of your classes and what you need to do to fully prepare for exams.  If your grades are not where they should be at this point in time, please make use of the resources available to you - the academic assistants in room 209 and, most importantly, your teachers. I am also here to help you with studying strategies and tips if needed. For many students, your final grade for the semester will come down to how you finish out this quarter and how well you do on semester exams. Please don't neglect this opportunity to make the most of the remaining time as a chance to start reviewing for exams.

A "Black Weekend"

The day after Thanksgiving is known as “Black Friday” for all of the people who plan out their day and shop til they drop, but for high school seniors across the country the entire weekend has been called a “Black Weekend.” NOT because of shopping, but because the push to finish applications is down to the wire so parents are forcing their senior students to spend all weekend working on college applications in an effort to try to get them completed. I keep wondering how many of you are really spending the weekend locked away in your rooms stressed out as you try to finish your college applications. Hopefully many of you were ahead of the game and didn't end up procrastinating to try to get everything done over the holiday weekend. 

Below is a list of articles related to writing your college essay that might be helpful if you are still scrambling to finish your essays:

10 tips for writing the college application essay

Dumpster words for college application essays

How to find your essay voice

They know when you’ve been naughty – Write your own essays!

3 things not to write about in your college application essay

Sample essay for common application essay #2 – “Striking Out”

Common application essay #3 – Challenging a belief or an idea

Last minute tricks for taking your college essay from average to awesome

4 tips for non-writers on writing college admissions essays

What makes a college application essay “great”?

My favorite college essay tip

What’s Sup?  10 hot tips to power your supplements

2 sample outlines for “why you?” supplements

The college application essay: looking at the prompts –option 1

Top 5 college application essay fears debunked

TMI in college application essays?

College App grabber trick: Show First!

Think Movies!  Another great way to write your college application essay

More college application essay tips from “Concise Advice”author Robert Cronk

Letterman’s Top 10 Ways to make your college application essay stand out – and mine

College application essay lessons from Modern Family

If a significant part of your holiday weekend has been "black" due to non-stop college application work, I hope you finish soon so you can enjoy some of the break.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you and your family enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving!  I have had fun with my entire family gathering together at my house.  It's been busy but lots of good memories.  I am so thankful to have each of you in my life.  I am blessed to have a job I enjoy and I never forget how fortunate I am to walk alongside you in your journey through high school.  Enjoy the rest of your break!

Have a great break!

I'd imagine many of you were like me and were so happy that the school week is already over.

I hope you have a wonderful 5 days off and that wherever your travels take you that you will have fun and be safe!

Also, one last reminder that if you will be on any college campuses during break, please take a picture for me!  :-)

College Admissions Decisions

College admissions decisions are already starting to come in for some students. Every senior looks forward to receiving their college acceptance letters. It is an exciting time and reassures that there is more ahead. Depending upon the schools where you are applying, it is possible that you will hear back quickly or you may be waiting until sometime in March to find out if you have been accepted. I do ask that as you begin receiving your acceptance or, sadly, even rejection letters, to please keep me informed about the decisions. For the vast majority of the colleges, the only way I know about your admissions decision is if you share the information with me.

Remember, the only way to receive an acceptance letter is to actually APPLY to the college! (Just a friendly little reminder for those of you who are still struggling to get your applications finished.)

Stress

How are your stress levels?

Stress comes from a range of events and life circumstances. When positive things happen such as getting a new job, dating someone new, or graduating from high school, stress levels increase. And, obviously, stress levels are higher when negative things take place like failing a test, fighting with family or friends, or having a lot to do in a limited amount of time. Quite simply, the reality is that stress is a part of life and it cannot be escaped, but it is important to learn strategies for dealing with stress.

Hopefully having 5 days off school will help to decrease your stress levels, but I am also very aware of the fact that holidays can also create stress. Expectations tend to be higher during holidays. Families are often together and sometimes that means lots of questions about your college plans or it could mean that siblings who are off to college are home and the change in routine can cause challenges. Students whose parents are divorced are often juggling multiple holidays and trying to be in several places at once which is never easy. Whatever the circumstances are for your family, try to remember that even though the holiday may not be the picture of perfection that you might see portrayed on movies or TV shows, it can still be enjoyable - even if it is stressful.

Finding the stress relievers that are effective in your own life is important not only during the holidays, but throughout the year! Talking to friends, writing in a journal, drawing, reading, listening to music, running, coloring, playing sports, spending time with your pets, taking a walk, dancing, exercising, watching a funny movie, or helping someone less fortunate are all examples of some simple stress relievers that might be ideas you can consider utilizing. Remember, if you need someone to talk to about some additional strategies for learning to manage the stress in your life that I am always around and willing to listen!

Also, below are a few articles related to stress that might interest you:

Teen Stress: How parents can help

Stress could literally kill you, here’s the reason why

And we can handle that!  ;-)

Delaware Area Career Center

Today was the field trip to the Delaware Area Career Center. I always love the excitement, smiles and hearing the stories about the fun experiences students had while on the visit to the career center.

As a reminder, don't forget that even if you decide to attend the career center, WKHS students are always WKHS students. With most programs you will have the option of attending the career center for full days (where you would take your lab coursework which counts as elective credits and your academic courses all at the career center) or for half days (where you only take the lab coursework at the career center and then return to WKHS for the other half of the day for your academic classes). You will graduate from Worthington Kilbourne and continue to participate on our athletic teams - even if you decide that you want to attend the career center for the full day. 

I strongly encourage you to check out the programs because the hands on opportunities to learn something new while also gaining your required elective credits can be a very appealing option! If you didn't have the chance to participate in today's field trip there will be "second look days" coming up soon. Any students interested in making this visit should stop by the WKHS Counseling & Career Center to pick up a permission slip from the secretaries. Permission slips must be submitted in advance in order to make arrangements for your visit.

Also, if you made the trip to the Delaware Area Career Center today and are excited about the possibility of attending in the future, please make sure to start working on your application and get it turned in to the DACC so that they can consider you for a spot in their program.