Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Reach Higher!

I am so excited about what we have going on in our counseling department!  You may have heard that I recently went to Washington, D.C. and met Michelle Obama!!  She was honoring me, along with 15 other semifinalists and 5 finalists, for the ASCA School Counselor of the Year.

 

Mrs. Obama is so inspirational, and her latest program is very close to my heart.  The Reach Higher Initiative focuses on helping ALL American students to go to college!  Her program focuses on funding more school counselors to help with guiding students, as well as with making college more affordable.

Over the past few weeks, my intern and I have been teaching 4th and 5th grade students about college-readiness and how education influences career choices.  Students have learned about the different types of colleges, the different degrees that can be earned, and the connection between level of education and projected salary.

The students love it!  It brings me such joy to teach all students that college is an option FOR THEM!  Some students, as young as 4th grade, have shared that they don't think they can afford college.  Some have shared that no one in their family has gone to college, and it isn't something they ever considered.  By the end of the lessons, ALL students have reported that they think college is an option.  What a wonderful feeling to help our students DREAM BIG and to show them how to get there!

All students were given the homework of asking people they know about where they went to college, and what degree they earned.  Some students were not even sure where their parents went to school.  So start talking to your kids about college now!  It's never too early to start planning for a successful future!!

The picture shows the door of the counseling office.  We are showing our Alma Maters--I went to NC State for graduate school and my intern is currently enrolled at UNC. . . . so we are a SUITE DIVIDED :)