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Monday, September 1, 2008
Make High School Count
Central Indiana, IN
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By: Elizabeth Crouch, Learn More Indiana
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Photo(s) By: Learn More Indiana
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Push yourself from now ‘til Graduation Day.
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Check out the ads—and the hilarious videos created for each “tough” character—at KnowHow2GOIndiana.org. You can view the ads, share them with your friends and read more about your favorite “tough” characters. If you’re feeling really brave, you can add the videos or links to your blog, Facebook or MySpace page.
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So you think you’re overwhelmed as a freshman, slacking as a sophomore, jumping through hoops as a junior and hopelessly afflicted with senioritis during your last year of high school? It doesn’t have to be that way.
Many people think that high school follows a predetermined cycle—but this cycle isn’t true!
For example, Jeffery Williams, sophomore at Hamilton Southeastern High School, says he has to work especially hard this year, fighting off the slump to which many of his fellow classmates are falling victim.
“I’m going to college to get the education I need to make my dreams come true,” Williams said. “Therefore, I’m going to push myself and make this year pay off for me to help get me into college.”
Williams is right about college helping make dreams come true. Over a lifetime, college graduates earn approximately $1 million more than those with just a high school education.
Starting today, make college your goal. Study hard; turn in all your assignments; ask for help when you need it; do your best. Read as much as you can—not just school assignments, but newspapers, magazines and books. Make your extracurricular activities really count: Be a leader; improve your skills; make a difference.
To make your transcript a standout, take on and work hard in the “tough courses.” Learn More Indiana is encouraging you to challenge yourself with courses that will help prepare you for success. Sure, grades are important, but the tougher the courses you take, the more likely it is that a college will decide to take you.
Many colleges—such as Indiana University, Purdue University and Ball State University—are moving to require advanced diplomas like Core 40 with Academic Honors as their minimum requirements for admission. In order to prepare for college and your future, Williams suggests taking:
• World Languages such as Japanese, Mandarin Chinese and Spanish. A lot of kids don’t want to take a world language because they’re “foreign.” And anything “foreign” seems weird. But, nothing is cooler than being bilingual (except maybe jean jackets and golden eagles). And as if that’s not enough, knowing a world language will help prepare you for college.
• Rigorous Math. Many students are afraid of classes like Algebra II because they think there will be a ton of homework (or maybe it’s because we’ve all seen too many pocket protectors.) Whatever the reason, Algebra II is not to be feared; it is to be challenged and taken on, as students have for centuries. Students who complete Algebra II in high school more than double their chances of earning a bachelor’s degree. Don’t stop there; push yourself to take Pre-Calculus, Trigonometry or Advanced Placement Calculus. When it comes to math, one-third of college students and half of those who went straight to the workplace would have taken more rigorous high school courses.
To help you stay on track throughout high school, Learn More Indiana has sent free, grade-specific success magazines to your high school just for you. Don’t miss this great opportunity to get more information on planning and preparing for college, career exploration and more. See your school counselor today to get your hands on a copy! Freshmen and sophomores, ask for OnTrack. Juniors and seniors, ask for NEXT Indiana: A Guide to Life after High School. •
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