By: Kelly Irish, College Counselor

The manuscript is about to come to life. So much work has gone into this production. The scene is set. The extras are carefully positioned. The supporting actors have taken their places. The main character is ready. Lights. Camera. Action! 

The main character of this show is College. He appears gradually in the manuscript, from kindergarten through high school, as each level plays its part in a story carefully aligned with the ending in mind.  We like to think of the college counseling process like that of a movie production, and we know how much planning goes into the final product that we see on the screen. 

Our college counseling starts gradually in 9th grade. This is where College has the role of the extra in the movie. He is definitely a part of the show, but still on the periphery. College is a part of the overall high school production, but in the 9th grade, he has but a small role with the students as they are learning to navigate high school, figuring out how to study, and choosing classes.

When the student moves to 10th grade, the role of College intensifies, like the pizza delivery guy or the sales clerk who has one line in the movie. The show does need College’s role, but he is not yet the main character. This is where advising gets a bit more personalized as classes are getting harder, and students are learning what “college prep” really means. They are starting to hone the executive functioning skills needed to balance expectations academically and their commitments socially and co-curricularly.

Junior year brings with it a much larger role for College, that of the supporting actor. He is not yet the main character, but will secure that lead role next year. This is the year where personalized college counseling heightens as choice plays a big role in the types of classes and activities students can take; oftentimes, those choices are directly related to where they want to go to college and/or what they’re interested in studying. Our conversations shift to “what do you want to do after high school,” and once we know that information, we use it to inform the rest of our conversation.

And finally, senior year meets the main character. The monologue belongs to College! College has earned the leading role. Students are working hard in their classes, applying to college, spending a lot of time in the offices of our college counselors, and it all becomes real. Before senior year, our college counseling’s personalized support has included 

brainstorming college lists with students, encouraging campus visits, talking through standardized test strategies, and analyzing data for fit. Now in senior year, we are supporting the application process while reminding our students of the promise of Jeremiah 29:11 — “ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Throughout each step of the “filming process,” the college counseling team is building relationships with the students, while being supported by our social-emotional counselors, Mitchell Baker and Kayla Ogelsby. The counseling team as a whole works closely with all students to give them personalized attention when it comes to academic advising and supporting their social-emotional needs as well.  

“Our conversations are led with God’s plan. In other schools you can’t necessarily lead with that. It’s that affirmation that there is a perfect place for you, and a journey that is going to be great.” - Dr. Amanda Sale, College Counseling Chair

The final production results in the celebrations of ALL of the acceptances, culminating with a celebration on Decision Day, May 1!