I write every day, and I read too. I'm currently putting together an ebook for a client based on a series of interviews she conducted this summer.
I've watched the videos and read the transcripts. I've been blown away by the ideas and methods out there to help students learn every day, attend college, and just find their ways in today's world. With permission, I'm sharing the ebook's intro. If you have begun to think that education is dead or just not possible, you may want to think again.
Getting Educated in the 21c (Working Title)
For Parents, Students, and Educators
Articles based on interviews from Ace Cookie Tutoring’s Masterclass (July 5th-18th, 2021)
“How to Graduate with Honors – Even if You Don’t Think You Can”
Introduction:
The original goal of the masterclass was to help students and parents find ways to improve grades and become students who are in the top 10% of their classes. Jessyka Coulter, founder and CEO of Ace Cookie Tutoring, believes in learning and wants students to aim high, but as the interviews progressed, everyone learned more than just performing well.
Mindset and mindfulness were a common thread in many of the interviews. Jessyka set her mind to be valedictorian of her high school class when she was in 4th grade. She did it. One of the speakers set her mind to be a teacher while she was in 2nd grade. She, too, accomplished her goal. If elementary students are able to make their dreams happen, can you really doubt the power of setting your mind to do something?
While many of the experts give examples of what to do in regular high school, there are several speakers who know about other options. Not every person is able to succeed as a traditional student. Home schooling and high school equivalency tests like the GED are reviewed. Ultimately, it’s being able to learn that is most important.
If you’ve been around children, you know at least one who regularly asks, “why?” Sometimes that child can become downright annoying. But “why” is a really important question. It affects motivation. It affects important decisions. Knowing your “why” can make a big difference in where you go to school, what major you choose, or whether you go to school at all.
What! Not go to school? According to the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics, “In October 2020, 62.7 percent of 2020 high school graduates ages 16 to 24 were enrolled in colleges or universities.” That means 37.3% of high school graduates were doing something else.
In 2017, the Census Bureau said 33.4 percent of Americans 25 or older said they had completed a bachelor’s degree or higher. There’s a big disparity between 62.7% and 33.4%. Some students are not finishing their degrees.
Getting a degree was never the purpose of the summit. However, if you want to get further schooling, it should be possible. Multiple experts discuss how to pay for school. Avoiding debt is key. They offer books, programs, and computer apps. Scholarships and grants are wonderful because you don’t have to pay them back, but do you know which ones to apply for or what schools are most generous?
Did you know that a good year at a community college may reduce the importance of your lousy ACT/SAT scores or a poor high school transcript? Helping students discover their strengths, finding occupations they may enjoy, and selecting the right school are topics many of the speakers address.
If higher education isn’t your immediate goal, what is? Every time you call the plumber or have your car repaired, do you think you chose the wrong profession once you see the bill? Apprenticeships, internships, technical schools, and community colleges are all part of the summit.
The military is another subject broached in the series. An Army Sergeant tells his story of being a reluctant recruit. Another expert describes her life as the spouse of an active member of the US Coast Guard. They discuss the educational opportunities afforded those in the military and the fact that you don’t have to join the military right out of high school.
Being an American gives you the opportunity to decide what you want to do. It can be difficult and frustrating, but it can also open the door to doing what you like. You also have the option to go back to school after your teens and twenties. In many countries that is not an option.
Read the articles based on the interviews. It doesn’t matter the order. Find the article that will help you or your student most. Graduating with Honors can mean being valedictorian, but for others it can mean being the first in your family to graduate. It can mean finding a profession that supports you and your family. It should mean that you know how to learn and can become anything you would like to be.
(I'm working furiously to finish the ebook. Send me a message if you have any questions. synthia@dovecopywriting.com)
Comentários