On The Path To High School

Last night my thirteen-year-old and I went to the 8th grade Parent Meeting. This is the meeting where you meet the high school counselors and talk about what to expect next year in high school. I’ve been through this before, two years ago with my oldest, but it doesn’t get any easier.

The associate principal started the night by greeting us and telling us, “Here at the high school we will be preparing them for the rest of their life.” I got a little choked up at “for the rest of their life.” I didn’t want to embarrass my son though so I swallowed my tears. The memories of his birth still seem so vivid to me and yet there we were sitting in an auditorium at the high school discussing his high school years. How did that happen?

High school has really changed since I was a teenager. Now they have pathways they can choose. There is business, automotive, culinary, engineering, graphic design, computers, welding and more. They don’t have to stay in their pathway, but if they already know what interests them they can pull their electives from that pathway. My sophomore is focusing on the Information Technology plan with courses in PC Hardware and PC Operating Systems. My soon-to-be Freshman is focusing on Information Technology and Art with courses in graphic design and web design. We didn’t have course like that. Our electives were things like Typing…on a typewriter with white-out.

Sophomores and up can take college credit course. My sophomore is currently enrolled in a class that gives dual credit. He’ll have credit towards his high school graduation and he’ll have college credit. They also have course where the kids actually go to the community college to take the course. We are lucky enough to be close to a college so it’s just a few minute drive for the kids. It’s a pretty amazing opportunity.

Juniors and seniors who are excelling with their studies have to opportunity to work in an internship for work experience and high school credit. I don’t remember having that option when I was in school. That was something that college students did. Not high school students.

Some of the seniors have signed up to be mentors to the freshman. They will guide them around the school at Freshman Orientation and on the first day of school they will wear specials shirts so the Freshman know who to go to if they have questions or get lost. These mentors will even send letters to each of the freshman over the summer.

My son isn’t too thrilled with high school. Not because it’s high school, but just because it’s school. I, on the other hand, have a whole mixture of emotions. I’m so excited for him and all these opportunities he’ll have. And I’m sad that my boy is almost in high school…just four and a half years from being a man.