College and Career Week

There is no time like the present. While it is important to live in the moment and seize each day as it happens, it is equally important to plan ahead and think about the future.

Without a guideline, goals, or even a guess of what you will be doing weeks, months, or a year from today, each moment will start to mean less and less.

At Lind-Ritzville High School, the importance of having a future plan was emphasized from Monday, October 20th to Friday, October 25th during College and Career Week.

College and Career Week brought representatives from several colleges and trade schools to interact with prospective students, encouraging many scholars to consider their options for the future.

College and Career Week gave students an efficient outlet to ask questions to a variety of trade schools and universities.

During an extended lunch period, students were given the opportunity to express their curiosity and glean information in a one-on-one setting with each school’s representative.

Programs and schools that participated in College and Career Week included: U.S. Air Force, Washington State University, National Guard, Big Bend Community College, Eastern Washington University, Spokane Community College, Spokane Falls Community College, and Grand Canyon University.

Christy Peterson, guidance counselor at LRHS, organized the week. She said, “This will help students prepare for the years after high school by having more exposure to what their future options are as well as who they can contact for questions.”

There are many advantages of researching plans for the future. Researching different branches of the military can inspire students to pursue a specific goal, maintain contact with military personnel, or apply for different scholarships.

Researching possible universities or majors can encourage students to reach for a certain grade point average, study for standardized testing, or enroll in specific vocational courses.

A representative from WSU who came to LRHS said that it is a good idea to start looking at colleges by students’ junior year, so they can know the dates, deadlines, and tour the campus if you needed.

Cassie Ewing, a senior at LRHS, understands the importance of formulating a plan.

“I think that you should start thinking about [the future] at your freshman year at the latest, like what kind of classes you want to take, especially in your junior and senior years,” Ewing said.

Students like Rachel Kropushek already have an idea of what their future will look like: “I’m going to go to work for a year, then go on a Mission, <and> attend a four year university to become a pediatrician. I am good with kids, and I really like being around them.”

Peterson continued, “I think it’s a great time for students to start thinking about their futures as early as sixth or seventh grade. Finding out [what] their interest[s] and talents are is helpful when it comes time to make those important life decisions.”

College and Career Week encouraged students to consider the potential of the futures, as they now approach the second quarter of the year.