Do Something!

This will seem so simple, most people will wonder why I'm even going to post about it.  It's common sense really, they'll say.  But my question is:  if it's common sense, are you doing it?  Because if you're not doing it, then you need to start.  And by "it", I am talking about doing something...ANYTHING...that correlates to what you're interested in, especially an academic interest.

The reason I say this is that many students fail to translate an academic interest to something more.  They also think they have to wait until college to figure things out.  I'm not advocating that you have to decide on your career at age 16, but I do think it's wise to explore your academic interests more than the classes you take in high school, and definitely to do more than the bare minimum requirements.  Why?  Because you'll be sure if you've romanticized certain fields of study--or if it's the real deal for you.

I meet with a ton of students who tell me they are interested in Engineering, students who feel relatively at home in math and science classes, and have earned good grades (usually a B or higher).  Most of these students are going into their senior year in high school, and I expect that they've done something to explore this interest.  Science Fair?  Job Shadowing?  Science Club?  ATC Classes or certificate?  And 99% of the time, the answer is:  Nope.  Nada.  Nothing.  Apparently, their interest looks mostly like a nice thing they say, without any idea of what Engineers actually do.  

Here's my advice:  be the one that isn't just talk...do something!  Join the Robotics Club.  Figure out how to get a job shadow (talk to teachers, mentors, Mrs. Krim--we'll help you!).  Continue on with Science Fair during the years it REALLY counts:  grades 9-12.  And follow the positive trend to take some hands-on courses at the ATC and find out if you actually like the sort of work Engineers do.  (By the way--courses at the ATC don't just translate to a great pre-Engineering career--there are loads of classes and careers for every interest!  Check them out:   OWATC and DATC

Extending your interest might also entail other ways of building your expertise beyond the classroom.  For someone interested in English, don't just say, "I want to be a writer"...begin by doing some writing that isn't connected to your required classes.  Start a blog.  Write a story.  Enter a writing contest.  For art, enter an art competition in the community.  Go to the art walks.  Take a tour of the art college at Weber State.  Simple stuff.  Common sense stuff.  But sadly, it's the simple stuff that gets overlooked 9 times out of 10.  Be the 1 student that does it.

Now, that being said, I am NOT advocating joining 10 clubs in 1 year, and becoming so overbooked that you don't really show up to anything with an invested mind.  I am advocating finding a way (even one way at a time), where you do something outside of your school load to extend an academic interest.  There is no magic answer here--but there is one wrong answer:  do nothing.  The wrong answer is to sit and wait for the stars to point you in the right way on that first day after high school graduation.  You don't have to pick your career now, of course, but you can explore options which will not only help you be more prepared in the future.

Yes, I know that this sort of extra-work looks great on a scholarship application, and that these students actually have something to write about on the essays that ask, "Tell us what you've been involved in during high school".  In addition (as if you needed another reason), students do better in school when they're able to connect the classwork to something that isn't graded.  Ironic, isn't it?  But it's true--if you want to do better IN class, find a way to do something OUT of class--but still connected to your academic interests.  Suddenly that English assignment on strengthening your voice or that Physics lesson on velocity takes on meaning if you're connecting it to something besides the homework assignment.

Repeat after me:  if you're interested in something--do something!  Posting this today because Club Rush is tomorrow (Wednesday, August 31st) and we have GREAT clubs that are fun and academic--and you should check them out and join one!  If, after attending Club Rush and talking to the reps at a few of the tables, you still have no idea how to translate the interest into action, email me to make an appointment.  In fifteen minutes, we can figure out the first step together.