What does it take?

In school, meaning high school I was pretty average... I got decent grades, that I had to bust my a$$ for, I played some sports and I did for 4-H and FFA. I was not a star athlete, a star student or ASB president. And magically I got into college... Even a couple of them! 

Now that I'm a teacher and I feel like I consult kids on a daily basis about college, why they should go (not all but most) and all the awesome things about college. I feel HELPLESS.

Helpless?! Yup! 

I feel like I know even less about how to help kids get to the college they want to go to-- financially, academically and emotionally. Although I only graduated five years ago I feel like so much has changed in the college system compared to when I was there. 

College and getting into college has now consumed the lives of high school freshmen and sophomores. And unfortunately by the time they get to their senior year I feel like they are even less prepared to go to college, then they really should be and they're not getting it. 

College is just such a focus for so many teachers, administrators, counselors and parents and even students. Yet, these star athletes, star students and presidents of every club on campus are not getting into college. I have kids with a ridiculous amount of AP classes, playing multiple sports, involved in multiple clubs and leadership and I hate to tell them that they might not get in the college of their dreams. 

Our school even had a girl last year who was a "ideal" well-rounded student and ideal candidate for college and that she didn't get into the one University that she wanted to go to. It's not like she was shooting for the moon or anything, it was a UC in California for jeez sake. How is that even possible?! How are 4.0+ GPAs and "involved with everything" type kids not getting into universities?? 

Kids no longer get to enjoy the great things about high school, because they are so consumed by these high-end classes and being involved with everything that they don't know how to balance anything. We are almost creating ADD kids. They can no longer focus on one thing or aspect of school and do it well. They have to do everything, they have to do it over the top, and they have to do it all at once. And that is only to MAYBE have a chance at the college of their choice (the realistic one).

Kids no longer take their time, do high quality work every time or really absorb information... They are so slammed, they rush through work just to get it done.

It's just crazy to me that so much emphasis is put into "being awesome and getting in". Kids need to be able to set goals and work hard to get into college but also enjoy the road getting there.

This is now my students on a daily basis...