Seventh grade students on a tour of Lansing Community College. They are featured in a shoot in the photography lab. The group shot is a combination of light painting and strobes.
Photo by Ike Lea
By TNCP Staff
It is never too early to start planning for college. Many middle school students and their parents are not thinking about visiting colleges or applying to universities. Students may be studying for their next test, putting finishing touches on their science projects or just be worried about when they will be meeting with their friends for a movie.
However, starting out in the right direction towards preparing students and parents for college would be greater to seriously start thinking about it in middle school.
Recently, seventh grade students from Pleasant View Magnet School had the opportunity to visit Lansing Community College (LCC). The magnet school is for students with artistic interests.
The Lansing School District’s website states, “Students will find a niche and develop their talents at Pleasant View Academy. At Pleasant View, students receive enhanced instruction and guidance in a variety of fine arts, including band, choir, dance, drama, orchestra, painting, piano keyboarding, and sculpture. Students will have an opportunity to display their talents and sharpen their skills in a variety of exciting performances at the school and in the community.”
Mrs. Annette Shauver, a teacher at Pleasant View Magnet school, collaborated with Toni Glasscoe, Director of K-12 initiatives and Career Preparation, to give forty-three (43) students a real opportunity to explore likely career paths that were in line with the arts focus of the school.
The students visited the costume and scene shops and saw historically inspired clothing for play previously made for productions at LCC. They also learned about garment sewing and were able to touch and feel fabric and notions.
They also learned about the Music Program, which has associate degrees in Music, Commercial Music and Music Management. They also had the opportunity to see, touch and play some of the instruments.
Darrius Guy excitedly said, “Once we were seated the music instructor assigned me to play the drums. When I started playing, he said I was fantastic! I felt so good inside, I will talk to my mother about taking drumming lessons.”
Some of the students really enjoyed the photography lab and the art studios. The hosts at LCC provided hands on experience for the first time with many students.
Pearl Cope said, “Wow! That trip was so fun. Now I know what I want to do in college when I get there. I want to learn how to make music on a computer, like making beats. When I went home I searched “making music” and “art making apps.”
Mrs. Shauver believes that middle school is good time for students and parents to think about building a strong academic record. Having just over 30 years of educational experience, Mrs. Shauver knows the importance of positive roles models in the lives of young people and exposing them to different opportunities.
Mrs. Shauver said, “There are so many things that parents and students can do to prepare for college. Developing good study habits, verbal, reading and critical thinking skills can be a huge benefit. Also being involved in community or extra curricular activities may help a student figure out what they like to do and what they don’t.”
Taking your young students to visit college should not be any different from taking your child to any other trip. There are several good reasons why it is important to expose your children to college. Just walking on a campus may allow them the opportunity to ask questions or start a conversation about what they may want to do. They may ask about certain things that they know something about but just did not have the opportunity to ask.
Visiting is a way for students to make connections between what they already know and what they may see while on campus or read in the literature that is handed out.
Other things that parents can begin to look at are the grades that their child is getting. Start as soon as possible. Make sure that your student will be able to compete. A good report card is important so they can take honors or AP classes. Also make plans to have your child begin to look at what ACT or SAT scores will be expected of them. But most importantly, parents who are not saving yet for college have the opportunity to jump-start their first year of school worry free.
Before your students begins polishing their athletic skills and crafting that flawless essay in high school, take them to visit the closest college campus so they can become more knowledgeable about what awaits them.
Seventh graders are usually 12-13 years old. They have the opportunity to take what they learned on their college visit to an entirely new level.
Alyannah Simmons said, “The LCC field trip opened me up to the possibility of going there for my first two years of college. My opinion about the college has definitely changed. The school has a lot to offer. Experiencing the fashion design, art and music were great. I love theater and photography and really enjoyed the trip.”
This article was printed in the October 17, 2015 -October 31, 2015 edition.
