Preparation key opening college doors

Far from the hustle and bustle of the big city, our La Conner seniors are finalizing their post-graduation plans. While acceptance letters and emails have been delivered, families still await confirmation of financial aid before they will be able to make final decisions. Ninety percent of our 39 graduates will continue into programs at tech schools, community colleges and universities. Jobs, apprenticeships and the military are choices for their classmates.

Recent stories highlighting the extraordinary measures some parents go to in order to see their students gain admittance into “prestigious” university programs are certainly disturbing and I am thankful our students are not under such pressure.

Thankfully, universities no longer rely only on SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) scores and cumulative GPAs (Grade Point Averages) to determine admission. Instead, they take a holistic approach and also consider community service records, leadership experiences, extra-curricular activities and the students’ personal statements. Such an approach really makes the doctoring of test scores unnecessary.

For those students who elect to attend post high school programs, our state offers many affordable options. There are nine public universities and 34 technical and community colleges spread across the State. All of these institutions offer financial aid to qualified students, regardless of ethnicity, gender, culture or citizenship. The University of Washington, as an example, offers the “Husky Promise” to students without financial means or family support, but who have the credentials needed to enroll. Similar programs are available to those who qualify in all of our higher education institutions.

Recognizing that each child comes to us with unique gifts and that those gifts should be valued and nurtured is a mandate all school staff do their best to implement. One way to do that is to expose our students to all the “possibilities” our world has to offer.

Career education begins in elementary school at La Conner with an introduction to college and careers options. Moving into middle and high school, students have the opportunity to participate in programs such as “STEM Like Me” for seventh graders, College Exploration Days at Western Washington University for 8th graders and “Try A Trade” for high school students interested in technical careers. These are only a few of the programs we take advantage of at La Conner.

The key is preparation. Parents and schools should begin helping their children recognize and nurture their strengths when they are very young. Each of us has different gifts; some are destined to be scholars, scientists, writers, teachers or engineers. Some of us are best when working with our hands to build, create beauty or maintain the machines that drive our world. Students who are prepared are able to follow their dreams without resorting to dishonest tactics.

There will always be those among us who believe “the end justifies the means”. You and I are not going to change that. What we can do, as parents and educators is nurture our children’s dreams, recognize and support their strengths and their interests and help them to understand that anything is possible. This is the way to prepare them for life after high school, whether they be bound for universities, technical schools, community colleges, apprenticeships, the military or the world of work.