Some Words to Go Back to School With

Welcome back!

Whether you stayed here in Canada or traveled abroad, I hope you’ve had a long and restful summer.

September has finally rolled around. It’s usually that time of year when students begin choosing their courses and making sure they are on the right path. This is really the eve of a new year for students: full of anxiety but also hope.

Unfortunately, with the public school strike continuing here in BC, a lot of students may feel like they are putting that process “on hold”. We cannot blame you for feeling really anxious about getting back to school. One way to look at this extra time is not entirely unfortunate. Perhaps, we should all use this time to do some serious soul-searching and think about the larger path.

For students in certain grades, this becomes especially true as the idea of “university preparation” approaches. Most students just think of this as a checklist, or something you do last minute with friends or a counsellor. Well, instead of making last-minute decisions about courses, the opportunity has presented itself (it is always here!) to think about all of your choices with greater clarity.

Here at Little Mountain Learning Academy our admissions coaching is based on seizing that opportunity. We counsel on more than just which sequence of courses to choose through junior high and high school. Yes, these finer details are important. But in each individual there is also a path, something deeper, and more meaningful – a personality.

Believe it or not, this IS what admissions offices are also looking for in a student’s portfolio, because even with grade “points”, it’s the connections drawn between those points that matter. We help you discover those connections, that uniqueness (Of course, to be brought back to earth, we also and help you with the other, constant difficult things that keep coming up, like learning a language). It’s enough to feel weakened, we understand, there’s a lot of struggle.

But there is another side to this power struggle.Not all the power rests with the institution to choose you (or your son or daughter, parents). That’s because: students choose schools. The ball is actually in the student’s court. This all being said, why not do as much research and preparation as possible? Be a keener. Draw up lists, think about all the details (environment, facilities, and social activities) that you (yes, YOU) want to see there.  You should research a school (please tell me more than its ranking or that your friend is going there), visit it, and see if it has the program type and style that will fit your personal learning style.

After all, the school you ultimately choose to go to will be more than just the place you earn your degree: it will be the social and intellectual environment you will be immersed in for at least four years. It will be where you forge connections, uncover hidden talents, meet lifelong friends and mentors, and further the development of your personality and strengths. It’s is where you will get not only academic experience, but also life experience and vision. After you graduate university, that’s going to be far more compelling and interesting to the outside world, than your GPA or SAT alone.

Don’t put your choices on hold.