Alternative Paths After High School

Particularly in Hopkinton, most students focus on selective four-year schools after graduation, and their perception is also heightened by the media attention that spotlights a bachelor’s degree as the gold standard of career fulfillment.  Because of this skewed portrayal, many teenagers have their minds set on college when this may not truly be the best fit for them. If this sounds like your child, read the information below, provided by Abigail McGinty:

“Wayne J. Griffin Electric, Inc. is a leading electrical subcontractor working on projects across New England including schools and universities, water treatment plants, Military Institutions, apartments, and businesses, to name a few. As a leading electrical subcontractor, we recognize that some high school students may want to follow the path of working in the trades.  As part of our ongoing partnership with schools in the area, we are pleased to sponsor an exciting event to showcase the career opportunities available in the electrical trade as well as opportunities to simultaneously earn a degree! Students who are struggling to determine what their next step will be after high school will be introduced to the electrical trade and the benefits to a career in the trades.   In addition, we will explain how individuals who graduate from our Apprenticeship Program and acquire an electrical license are provided with half the credits required for an Associate Degree at Wentworth University.

We would like to invite students, parents, teachers and/or guidance counselors to our Career Fair. This event will be on Saturday, February 9, 2019, at our Holliston offices at 116 Hopping Brook Road from 8:30 am to 10:00 am.  Some of the topic areas discussed will be:

• “Earn while you learn” which is the opportunity to earn a full-time salary while learning the skills necessary to acquire an electrical license.
• The diversity of work and a team of experienced professionals who provide both classroom training and valuable exposure to hands-on work on over 200 active job sites.
• The requirements and benefits of achieving an electrical license and ongoing career opportunities
• A great opportunity to apply for an Associate Degree Program through Wentworth University.  Each individual who successfully attends four years of Apprenticeship Training and earns an electrical license will receive half of the credits towards achieving an Associate Degree and Griffin Electric covers up to 75% of the remaining tuition!”

To register or ask questions, Ms. McGinty can be reached via e-mail (amcginty@wjgei.com) or at her direct line at 508-306-5348.

College Planning

After the New Year's, many businesses and companies promote their college planning resources, especially targeting juniors who are about to start planning their post-secondary process.  These services typically come with a fee, and many parents and students begin to feel pressure to sign on just to "keep up with the Joneses." Moreover, according to CNBC, "High school students and their parents have become so panicked with the mystique surrounding today's college admissions process that they are clamoring to find help to better their odds in the college admissions game." Although many articles, including the one above, cite the lack of quality admission counseling in high schools, I am fortunate to report that those comments do not generalize to Hopkinton. Due to our abundant resources, proactive students, and extensive parental support, our counselors are able to work one-on-one with families to facilitate the college process, all for free.

As an example, coming up in the third quarter (i.e., January 28th) all eleventh-graders will be assigned to a small-group Junior Guidance Seminar class, taught by a school counselor during the school day.  For six sessions (each meeting lasting an hour), counselors will cover topics in depth such as testing for college admissions (SAT/ACT/Subject Tests), discussing test prep, determining the best college fit, using the Common/Coalition Application, starting the college essay, asking for teacher recommendations, preparing for interviews, and learning college email etiquette.  Additionally, please note that on February 28th (7:00 p.m.), the school counseling department will offer a Post-Secondary Planning Night for juniors and their parents, offering topics such as On Writing the College Essay, Navigating the College Process in the Digital Age, and Affordable College Options:  Hidden Gems in Canada and Abroad.

Regardless of your child's grade, if you are feeling overwhelmed about college, rest assured that you don't need to hit the panic button yet; if you need assistance, please email your child's school counselor and s/he can allay your concerns.  Or, if you are unsure of whom your student's counselor is, please don't hesitate to contact me. As you know, it takes a village, so don't hesitate to reach out to your friendly neighborhood Spider-man...oops, I mean counselor!

Heroes in action!  HHS Counselors and Administrative Assistants, from left 
right, Cheryl Elder, Kristen Wurster, Dori Zeigler, Connie O'Loughlin, Hannah 
Webb, Lee Greco, Pat O'Brien, and Mike Flanagan.  Not pictured:  Kiely Murray