Standing in the hallway Tuesday at lunchtime, Philomath High School Principal Mark Henderson monitors students as they grab some food or make their way around campus up and down hallways.
A few wander down toward the front of the school where College Application Week activities were taking place. More than a dozen students wanted to sit in on a presentation by Linn-Benton Community College.
Although there are always those with a sharp focus on future plans, many students still have questions about what they want to do after high school. Henderson was one of those kids once.
Growing up in the Puget Sound area in Washington state, Henderson wasn’t sure what he wanted to do after earning his high school diploma and opted for enlisting in the U.S. Navy. After serving for a number of years, he realized that he was ready to resume his education at a higher level and eventually went on to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees while deciding on a life in education.
“My background in the military really helped me out when I went to school because I didn’t know what I wanted to do out of high school,” Henderson said. “Had I gone to college, I probably would have wasted a lot of money and been in debt.”
To save money, Henderson began his studies at a community college.
“I think it’s a good route for people that aren’t exactly sure what they want to do,” Henderson said. “Maybe they’ve got that first two years to kind of figure it out to see if they even want to continue on to a four-year school or hit a trade school.”
The point of Henderson sharing his own story is to illustrate the many paths that young people take on in their journeys through life. For those with an interest in continuing their education after high school, College Application Week kicked off Monday with activities continuing through Thursday.
“The seniors have an opportunity to meet with representatives and meet with us to get help with their college applications,” said Leslie Adams, who joined the school district this academic year as College and Career Center specialist. “The juniors can come in for the presentations with the different universities that come this week.”
Helping students and parents navigate through financial aid forms and various other documents serves as a key component of the event — especially as application deadlines approach. Plus, there are daily campus visits from colleges and universities in the region.
“I think it’s great because it brings awareness to our students about all of the opportunities that exist after high school,” Henderson said. “Plus, we’re giving them more help now with helping them apply, writing their college application letters and just celebrating them more, too.”
The high school also offers special events for students interested in trade schools or the military.
“We’re trying to push opportunity after high school — and not necessarily a four-year school because that’s not for everybody,” Henderson said.
Said Adams, “We do want to make sure that all students have opportunities to pursue their interests.”
