College Life Skills by Brianna

College Life Skills by Brianna - September 2019 Scholarship Essay

If I had the opportunity to create a high school extracurricular activity I would create a club focused on preparation. Students that are interested in attending college could learn things they need to know to be successful. I would create this extracurricular activity because I think the students are ill prepared for the nonacademic aspects of college and the new responsibilities of being an adult.
Schools focus mainly on educating students on curriculum and the educational expectations that accompany going to college. However, they only touch base on subjects like financial aid and housing. My club would help and teach students about all of the financial aid options available to them and help them make a plan to avoid getting deep into debt. It would also include assisting students in finding and applying for scholarships targeted to younger students that are not yet in college. Students would receive information regarding both off campus and on campus housing. They would also learn that they can use scholarships for more than tuition and can put it towards their housing fees.
Another area that schools overlook is preparation for adulthood. Attending college is a big change in itself and is accompanied with the leap into adulthood. Students are often unprepared for caring for themselves. Some students are not given the opportunity to learn to budget and support themselves. They also need guidance on how to handle their stress when it comes to college and adulthood. My extracurricular activity would teach them exercises to reduce stress and manage their mental health.
I think that a club like this would provide students with much needed assistance. I would have enjoyed having all of this information and not learn on my own as I go. I, like many others, have struggled with financing and what to expect. I have seen people struggle with housing and drop out of college because they were not prepared to balance the education expectations and working to cover expenses. An extracurricular activity like the one I have described could help students avoid these types of situations and focus on their courses.
I feel that these are important factors that can help students to be more successful in their higher education and living situations. Offering assistance to students through an extracurricular means that interested students can receive individualized help. From my experience, college curriculum is the least of student worries because they have been prepared for that. Most students struggle with finances, mental health, other responsibilities, and outside factors.