Once they realize what they want in life, they create plans for themselves that bring much more reward to them. What started as an unsure plan can easily turn into, “I want to get a bachelor’s in engineering, join the army, go back to school to become a certified welder and open up my own welding company.” The possibilities and paths are endless as long as they recognize their capabilities.

No matter what obstacle is being faced or what opportunity has opened up, the road to success is daunting. Once a student has completed a degree course, certification or training and chosen an established career, they have a better understanding of how great they can be. But during a student’s years in middle school and high school, his or her personal view of greatness is blurred. During that crucial time period, we are present to ensure that every student is able to find the greatness within him or herself and navigate the path that will help them figure out how to leverage their inner passions, knowledge and skills to create a great future for themselves.

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A common reason for one to graduate college is to get a good paying job. Although studies have found that on average college graduates earn $1 million more in their lifetime than high school graduates, not everyone likes to focus on income. If you’re one of those people, here are some additional reasons why college is worth it:

1. More opportunities: After receiving a degree in specified major, you have now opened more opportunities. Anytime someone enters a new industry, it doesn’t always go as planned. It can lead to leaving that job and trying to find a new path to success. With a college degree, you have something to fall-back on instead of starting from scratch.
2. Family Assistance: Even though money isn’t the primary focus, it can offer an opportunity to help loved ones. Because you can earn more money with a college degree, you’re able to support family with any financial struggles.
3. Pave The Path: If you’re a first generation college graduate, you have a chance to be a role model. Whether you have younger siblings, cousins or friends, being a college graduate goes a long way in the eyes of others and inspires them to follow your footsteps.
4. Cultural exposure: Colleges and Universities bring in students from various backgrounds. Instead of learning about people with different beliefs or practices in an article or book, you get a first hand experience by interacting with these people on a daily basis. This allows you to have a better understanding of the cultures that surround us.
5. Networking: Not only does a college degree open more doors for you when it comes to applying for a job, but the people you meet can offer new opportunities as well. It can make the job search easier and it can also offer opportunities you weren’t even considering.
6. Expanding your limits: College is not easy. The work piles up and is extremely time consuming. Juggling school, work and your social life becomes exhausting. While you’re doing that, you learn to manage your time, finances and work in a much more efficient manner.

It is true; a college degree can allow you to earn more money in your lifetime. But if you aren’t worried about making an endless amount of money, there is much more to higher education. Your opportunities increase allowing you to have more options. Your chances of helping your family as well as beginning the road to higher education increase. Your interpersonal skills improve which allows you to interact with people in a much more positive, respectful manner. You will meet people that can help you achieve and exceed your goals. You will learn life lessons that can help you deal with situations in an effective manner. These reasons as well as many more are great examples as to why college is worth it.

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2. Provides great information about your career interests and a strong foundation for your resume. Not only do you get the experience, you can also capture and quantify your key accomplishments and get a good sense of the jargon used in the industry. Your experience makes for great resume content and can help set you apart from others in your full-time job search.

3. Offers fertile ground for networking. It’s great to have personal contacts and relationships with people that are in the profession you hope to pursue. These people can be great references for you and they can provide invaluable insights about the challenges and rewards of your career area. By the way, it is not uncommon for companies that employ interns to also extend full-time work offers to the interns once the internships are completed.

4. Gives you the opportunity to develop new skills. So much of what you need to do a job well are skills that are learned on the job. Whether you excelled in school or where an average performer, an internship gives you a new opportunity to build on the foundation you already have. Seize the opportunity to learn, you may find your internship more engaging that school.

5. Helps you hone your time management skills. Just as there have been deadlines associated with your school work, there will be deadlines, rules and guidelines for doing your work. It is also not uncommon for you to need to multi-task to get all your work completed. Plus, it will be important to get to work on time and use your breaktimes and lunchtimes wisely. The internship gives you a chance to hone your skills for prioritizing your work and meeting deadlines.

6. Your accomplishments at work and feedback from your colleagues can help build your confidence. Your internship will give you a chance to showcase your interpersonal, professional and social skills. You may also discover that you have some hidden skills that you were unaware of that are greatly appreciated by your co-workers…enjoy the personal discovery and the positive feedback.

7. An internship helps you determine if this is the right career path for you. Your internship will give you new insights and experiences. Hopefully, you learn that the career path you have dreamed about is right for you. But, even if you learn that the career is not as fulfilling as you dreamed or simply not right for you, be glad for the experience. Either way, you will be wiser and have even more information to use in selecting a rewarding career.

The post Why every student should have an Internship. Author: Marcia Page appeared first on Education is Freedom.

The goal is to maximize the summer months and prepare for an action-packed new school year full of life-altering choices and decisions. The good news is that nothing suggested here is overly hard, it just needs to get done. So, keep reading and do these few things to help assure your senior year is one of the best years of your life so far.

1. Get Organized – There are tons of important decisions in the coming year. Get a calendar, make note of key dates and deadlines. Post your calendar in a prominent place and check it often to stay on task and on schedule. Once you get in this habit, you may find that this approach will work well for you far beyond your senior year.

2. Prepare for Life After Graduation – What is your plan? Are you going to college or another post-secondary education program? Whatever your choice, you can help insure your success with the prep work you do now. Research the requirements for the school or program of your choice and be sure you have met or have a plan to meet the requirements for admission. This college admissions guide may help you anticipate the year ahead.

3. Register for Fall SAT/ACT Tests – You may have taken the tests in your junior year, if there is room for improvement in your score sign-up for the test and take it again, this is a great opportunity not to be missed. Over the summer, get registered for the test and put a date on your calendar as soon as possible. Test seats are limited, so sign-up before the all the seats are taken. Test location can also be a factor influencing your test results, this resource may help you pick a location ideal for you.

4. Get Your Finances in Order (FAFSA & TASFA) – This one is likely a family affair. To apply for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA), you will need information about your parents’ most recent tax returns, W-2s and other records of money earned. If you earned income and are using your earnings for help pay for school, you must have the same information for your income as well. The state and federal funds are limited, so following the dates and filing your financial aid applications early puts you ahead of the pack and more likely to receive the financial aid you need. This resource on tips to maximize financial aid may help.

5. Do a Trial Run – There’s nothing wrong with getting a head start on a few of the big things coming in the fall, then as deadlines approach, you will be refining the work you have already begun, versus starting from scratch. A couple of topics and suggestions…Start thinking of who you will ask to write letters of recommendation for you and complete a first draft of your college essays. When the fall comes, you will be happy you did.

6. Make Sure Your Social Media Tells a Good Story – Have you heard that companies hiring new employees frequently look at their digital profiles for a virtual first impression? Well it is true and the good news is that social media might also help your college prospects, read this article from CNN to learn how.

There are few times in life where the decisions you make are as important as those you will make in the fall as you begin your last year of high school. Enjoy the warm weather AND get a few things done to ensure your senior year success.

The post Rising Seniors: 6 Tips for Maximizing Your Summer Author: Marcia Page appeared first on Education is Freedom.

The problem with this sort of thinking and conformity is that every time we limit our exposure, we lose the opportunity to stretch and grow. Whether you have the chance to meet someone from another ethnic group, someone far richer or poorer than you are, do it. The upside potential is huge. Embrace the idea; talking with others exposes us to differing points of view and cultural nuances.

Question the hypothesis about the value of diversity if you will, but having a broader sense of the world around, seeing the same problems from several points of view, understanding how other cultures and different economic strata process information and make decisions, is enriching. On the surface, my comments here may strike you as social commentary or an updated line from Dale Carnegie’s book, How to Win Friends and Influence People. In part, you would be correct. Adding a little diversity to your life would probably improve your social life or at least infuse a little excitement (smiles). However, the real reason for advocating for diversity is directly related to helping our students prepare for success in a global economy.

In truth, diversity is all around; it is the norm. Those in the workforce now know that diversity is everywhere and those able to collaborate across racial, cultural and socioeconomic boundaries will be poised to lead America to our next, best years.

The post Diversity…Kids Need it Too! Author: Marcia Page appeared first on Education is Freedom.

By now, you have already started the new school year off with a bang…shopping tax-free weekend for new school clothes and supplies–check. The first days of school was great, getting to renew relationships and see your friends after the summer break – check.  Now you are back in the groove and ready for a successful year of accomplishment–right?

The old adage that you start getting ready to apply for college and financial aid in the middle of your senior year is officially outdated, passé, kaput, in other words…old news. Beginning October 1, 2016 (yes, just a few short weeks from now), you can begin applying for Federal Government financial aid funds. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®) program has an entirely new timetable.

For those planning to attend college beginning as early as July 2017, roll up your sleeves and get to work. The rules the Feds have in place are reasonable. They realize that you cannot have your 2016 taxes completed as early as the beginning of the application period so they have rewritten the rules allowing applicants to use 2015 tax year information when applying for financial aid for the 2017-2018 school year, this is very good news. Here is a summary of key dates related to FAFSA grant monies:

Need a Money Mentor to help navigate the financial aid system, check out NextGenVest.com.

In addition to filing for Federal financial aid, you have a few more due dates to plan for and consider; let me spur your memory.

1. We discussed the FAFSA, but do not forget the Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA). Apply for one or the other, but do not miss your chance to receive financial aid from the US government. You deserve your shot at the American dream and the financial assistance to make your dreams reality.
2. If you have already taken the SAT^® or ACT and you are happy with your scores, you are in great shape. If not, schedule your time to retake those exams now. The in school exams for Dallas ISD will be in the spring of 2017. For more information on entrance test dates and fees, click here .
3. Last, but not least, one of the most important decisions you will make is where you will attend college. Narrow your list of options and begin working on your college applications. If you need help thinking through how to position your achievements and highlight your best characteristics, ask for help. Your parents may be a good resource, but if not go to your Education is Freedom Advisor who is at your campus every day to help you. You have everything to gain.

There are resources, services and tips all around to help you get through this busy period, so do not let your “To Do” list scare you. Get a simple calendar to hang on your wall as an ever-present reminder; mark out key dates and set aside time to work toward the accomplishment your goals.

This really is the beginning of the rest of your life, invest the time now to ensure your own success!

The post Ready for College? So Much To Do, So Little Time! appeared first on Education is Freedom.

According to Morgan State University’s administrator over student retention efforts, Tiffany Mfume, many students who stopped their college degree program were very close to meeting their financial obligations. In fact, in Mfume’s research, 10 percent of students that put their academic careers on hold until they were able to pay owed less than $1,000. Though income and earnings have stalled for many, the cost of education has continued to escalate. If a $1,000 debt could end a college career for one in ten at Morgan State University, imagine what a financial obligation of much larger sums would do to many others.

A few progressive schools have created programs specifically to address this issue. They identify highly qualified low and middle-income students, using fundraising contributions and other sources of financial aid the goal is to close the financial gap and assure that students begin their college educations and end with a degree in hand. In fact, at Morgan State, a $5 million campaign was launched and the college’s president put his own money were his heart was and pledged $100,000 toward the effort. Bravo to all the visionary schools and administrators who have taken action to remedy this issue at least short term, but let us not forget, wholesale reform is needed to remedy the income inequality issue as it relates to education.

Poised for action and always ready to jump in with a helping hand, Education is Freedom (EIF) is not waiting around for the entire US economic system rewrite to repair the income inequality dilemma. Instead we are taking action to do what we can, while we can and we want you to join us for the inaugural fundraiser aimed at providing 100 scholarships to Dallas’ best and brightest students from 10 Dallas ISD schools. The program entitled, An Evening with the Stars, 2016 Inaugural Scholarship Event will directly support EIF graduating seniors with a personalized scholarship that will cover college costs that are not traditionally covered by financial aid. Join EIF and Highland Capital, the title sponsor, Saturday, May 21^st, 5-7pm at the Dallas Zoo to participate. Not able to attend? There are many ways to assist, click here for more information on how you can contribute; no gift is too small to help.

In closing, no one is more aware of the monumental task before the country in finding a remedy to income inequality and its impact on the educational achievement gap than we are. We applaud Morgan State University and other progressive schools that have developed programs to address this pressing issue. But, we also know that to support our vision for the children of Dallas ISD and to live our mission to create well-educated, career ready young adults, we must act now.  The need is great, the time is now, can we count on your support ?

The post Big Dollars Count, Small Dollars Matter! appeared first on Education is Freedom.

Simply stated the basic vision for the plan is to bolster the skills of the state’s workforce, making Texas an attractive state for enterprise. Earlier this year, Texas’ Higher Education Coordinating Board introduced 60 by 30 Tex (or 60x30TX), a lofty plan developed precisely to address the dwindling workforce ready population and to assure that state based businesses have the resources and skills needed to fuel growth into the middle of this century. The specific goal is to have 60% of Texans between the ages 25 and 34 hold some type of degree or post-secondary certification by the year 2030. By comparison, today this demographic group (people ages 25-to-34) have only a 38% attainment rate.

To crystallize the goals the plan calls for at least 550,000 students in calendar year 2030 to complete a certificate, two-year, four-year or master’s degree from an institution in Texas. Additionally the goal stipulates that all graduates from Texas public institutions will have completed programs with identified marketable skills; and undergraduate student loan debt won’t exceed 60 percent of Texas public institution graduates’ first-year wages.

The new plan urges more success with Hispanic and African-American students who to date have had far lower educational attainment rates versus others.  Since Texas has the highest percentage of black and Hispanic students in the country, finding ways to help these students get into college, stay in college — and pay for it — will be vital to the state’s future.

Critics of the plan might argue that rather than laying out a specific list of actions, it is more a statement of goals. From my perspective, sure it could be a little more prescriptive but I am choosing to focus on the positive. Consistent with EIF’s vision and mission, I am encouraged that among the plans details are specific efforts to make college more affordable and to make it easier for students to access and complete college courses. A few highlights from the plan that caught my attention are as follows:

• Aggressively promoting college attainment to students and parents prior to high school.
• Expanding online courses and those that students can take while still in high school.
• Exploring the possibility of reducing the hours needed to earn a degree — say by reducing required electives — so that students can graduate faster.
• To help with affordability overall, the Texas Legislature is working to align community college courses so that more would easily transfer to a four-year institution, saving students money.
• Before the next Legislative session in 2017, officials are also considering allowing a few community colleges to offer bachelor degrees. But care is being taken to develop a process that does not create unnecessary competition with universities.

There is a lot to digest in the new 60x30TX plan and by the authors’ own admission by design, the plan is “Texas-bold and Texas-achievable. Some may say this goal is too great to accomplish, but it must be accomplished – a Texas future without bold action is a Texas without a bold future.”

We will continue to watch for new developments in the state’s plans for higher education. My suggestion is that you too stay tuned; the next 15 years are bound to be choked full of excitement and innovation for higher education in Texas.

Want more details? Click here to read a draft of the full plan.

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The first three years of high school went by quickly and the senior year will also, but it will be more exciting and for many, more emotional too. It is a time of many lasts: last first day of high school, last homecoming game, last prom and of course there will be many good-byes to teachers, classmates and your school. Plus there is also extra added time pressure. You’ve heard it many times, you must submit your college and financial aid applications, additionally you will need to plan for graduation, live up to your other commitments, like part-time work and you also need to maintain your grades throughout senior year. (Remember even early college admissions can be rescinded if grades falter.) Developing a plan or schedule, managing your time and staying motivated are critical steps to overcoming senioritis. If you are focused, it will be far easier to be effective keeping the big picture and your goals to attend college in the fall top of mind.

While focused on your plans for college, stay in the moment too. Enjoy your graduation– celebrate, you’ve accomplished a major milestone. Just don’t lose your momentum after the big day. You’ve heard Sir Isaac Newton’s first law of motion, “an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless impacted by an external force”. Well the key here is to beware of external forces or the phenomenon called “summer melt”.

Summer melt is the term used to describe when students with college plans the spring before graduation do not make it to campus in the fall…their intentions to attend college melt away during the summer before fall admission. The Summer Melt Handbook, published by Harvard University Center for Education Policy Research, estimates 10 to 40 percent of students planning to attend college do not follow through on their plans. The rates tend to be even higher among students from urban districts, low-income families and for those who are the first in their families to attend college. Even if you think summer melt would never happen to you, it is far too common an occurrence to ignore. Better to have a plan and not need than to need it and not have it. You must be diligent, but do not go it alone, enlist your support network (your family, your high school and college resources such as Education is Freedom).

Follow these seven tips to help you stay on track and develop your own Anti-Summer Melt Playbook:

What you, the senior student, can do:

1. Sign into your college’s personalized webpage or campus portal, note key dates and take action.
   1. Register and attend the college’s orientation session (this is mandatory for many schools).
   2. Complete placement tests if required.
   3. Check on the status of your financial aid applications and key tuition due dates.
   4. Complete housing forms.
   5. Check on your school’s pre-admission vaccination and health insurance requirements.
   6. Submit any other required paperwork or forms.
2. Connect with friends also planning to attend college; form a support group and share important news and resources to assure everyone conquers summer melt.

What your family and friends can do:

3. Your family can help you stay motivated and confident by offering praise and support for your ambitions to attend college and they can help remove obstacles that could hamper your success.
4. Set aside some time each week to check in with your family; share with family and friends what’s on your mind and ask them to help you come up with solutions to help resolve persistent issues.
5. If there are questions your family and friends cannot answer, ask a trusted family member or role model to place an inquiry call to the college’s office of Student Affairs to identify additional aid and resources.

What your high school and your college can do to help and what are the resources that may be available to you:

6. Ask a school counselor (college or high school) for assistance and guidance over the summer to answer questions and serve as your accountability coach.
7. If your high school or college has a social media (text, email, Facebook or Twitter) program for incoming college freshmen, sign up to have messages delivered directly to your cell phone or email.

You may not have all of these tools available to you, but that’s not a good excuse; leverage the resources you do have. Well timed activities and communications throughout the summer will work wonders to keep you focused and excited to begin college in the fall.

The post You’ve Heard of Senioritis, What About Summer Melt? Author: Marcia Page appeared first on Education is Freedom.

Historically the summer months were a critical time to earn extra money and gain needed skills. Additionally, summer jobs have been associated with higher graduation rates, better future employment prospects and even higher earnings later in life. But in America over the last 12 years, there has been a 40% decline in the youth summer employment rate. You may think that this phenome only impacts the youth, but the real truth of this employment shortfall has far-reaching consequences, of course for the young people, but also for our communities and the broader economy overall. Couple these statistics with the reality that many companies hesitate to hire high school students because of their preconceived notions that they are too young, require a lot of training and have no value-added skills and it makes for a depressing, although very realistic picture.

It is not a surprise that Internships are good for the person seeking the new experience (especially given the dearth of jobs available to high school and college age students) AND they can also be a boon to employers too. For the employee, an internship can provide a peek into a new career, a field of study, excellent networking in the interns’ chosen field, great on the job experience, and financial literacy as they learn how to manage their paycheck earnings. There are many practical and long term benefits for young people. Plus, consider that the cost of a disenfranchised and disconnected young person just 16 years of age, may add both taxpayer and social burden of $1 million during his or her lifetime according to statistics published in The Economic Value of Opportunity Youth, 2012 . The case seems pretty clear on the value for students, but consider this…internships are great for employers too giving the hiring company the opportunity to build brand awareness among emerging young or established consumers, build a talent pipeline that can be leveraged for years to come and add experience in areas like social media where they may need to bolster their approach to be competitive or where their current staff may have less experience. In short, it is a win-win for everyone.

Research suggests an internship can be a key ingredient to setting a student apart from other applicants. In fact, one study suggested that 90% of all respondents agreed that a high school internship could help students get into better colleges. When it comes to getting a better job after college the differentiator may also be an internship. In both cases, it’s important to stress that students should use internships as an opportunity to stretch their abilities, showcase their willingness to learn new tasks and skills. Plus, take the chance to network with colleagues. Sometimes who you know is just as important as what you know. A well-placed personal referral for a candidate goes miles in terms of breaking the tie between candidates to fill a job opening or used as recommendations for college applications.

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