Back to School & Back to the Printing Press- Ethan Houser the Summer Intern

Times flies, and before we know it we students will be heading back to school.  As the end of summer approaches, school seems to be the recurring thought on the minds of students.  Schedules come in the mail, lists of school supplies circulate amongst the student population, and the shopping begins.  However, for some, planning ahead might not be planning far enough ahead.  You might be sitting there thinking "What in the world is he talking about?"  Well let me explain.

Once again, this quarter of the year is in our sight which means that it is time for the next edition of Empowerment Magazine.  With the arrival of school lined up with the release of the next edition, we thought it would be the perfect time to create a student edition.  This magazine will be a great resource for students.  It will cover several topics ranging from college preparation to helping us, as students, plan ahead for the future to even writing your very own personal statement!  Sounds exciting, right!?  Of course!  

The fall is a hectic time of year, especially for high school seniors.  We are already juggling our time with school, extracurricular activities (such as athletics, clubs, volunteering, etc...), time with friends and family; and for some, part-time jobs.   We are focused on what grade we got in Biology or when we are getting our senior pictures taken.  We are focused on why Brad broke up with Jenny, who we are going to prom with, or if NC State is going to beat Carolina in basketball this year. 

Well now it is time to add one more thing to the plate: College preparation.  One important thing to remember is to plan ahead because college will sneak up on you.  Yes it is important to be focused on this step in our life, but we also have to start thinking about our next step; What we are going to do after high school.  If you go ahead and start thinking about that next step (such as where you want to go to college, what scholarships you want to apply for, and which path you want to take through life) then when the time comes you won't be caught on the spot and indecisive on what you want to do.

If you haven't really started thinking about what is in store after high school or you have but you aren't sure where to start or what else you need to plan then you're in luck!  In fact, if you are a high school student then you are in luck!  This edition of Empowerment Magazine's purpose is to focus on empowering students and helping them plan for the next step in life.

Let's take myself for example.  Last year, my junior year, I started looking into my next step in life.  Along with some rigorous courses, sports, and a job at the YMCA, I began searching for colleges and making a list of ones that I was interested in.  By the end of the year I already had a possible major in mind, I had taken three college tours, and narrowed my list down to five colleges.  Once the summer began I knew that my next step was to start looking into college scholarships and planning to start the application process once fall set in.  I started an internship that prepared me for my future in ways such as teaching me financial strategies/habits to take on and learning to become a leader and take initiative in my life.  That's when I was enlightened of a significant piece of my puzzle that was missing.

My supervisor, Antionette Kerr, Executive Director at the Lexington Housing Community Development Corporation (the host site of my internship) was talking to me one day, and she thought it would be a good idea for me to start on my Personal Statement.  You might be thinking "A Personal Statement?"  I had no idea what it was.  Like one my statements that is personal to me?  Or like some sort of mission statement that only I know about?  I was assigned to research what a Personal Statement is and then write my very own draft.  So the research began.  I was flabbergasted when I found out that writing a Personal Statement plays a major role in the college application process.  It completely came out of nowhere, but I am glad that I learned about it at the time that I did.  If I didn't have to write a Personal Statement at my internship then when the time came to apply for college, writing a personal statement would have completely surprised me.  

That's what this edition is all about.  Preparing high school students for the next step in life.  So when the next issue of Empowerment Magazine is published, be sure to grab a copy and even tell a friend!  Share the valuable information it contains!  Remember, you are never too young to start planning.

If you would like to write for the student edition of Empowerment you may apply below.

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