Grown Up Choices

The Future is sometimes scary to think about. Especially when it's just about time to fly the nest and strike out on your own. It is exciting and thrilling, but you never know quite what to expect. You can never know for certain that what you are planning for your future will succeed. Nevertheless, we plan, dream and hope for the best.

Young people that finish High School in my area go on to hundreds of different occupations and lives, I could not possibly describe them all. I personally know people that want to be marine biologists, engineers, international business people, politicians, nurses, doctors, pharmacists, photographers, linguists, architects, authors, and even a missionary elementary teacher in Africa. I know some people that don’t want to go to college, and are perfectly happy to go straight into the workforce after high school. I know people that went to college, dropped out, and are now going back to school and working at the same time.

For those that do go on to a higher education, there are a seemingly infinite supply of Universities and Colleges to choose from in the US. There are of course the Ivy Leagues and other famous Universities that have gained much renown over the years, and anybody could recognize their names. There are also local community colleges, state Universities, private Universities, Liberal Arts Colleges, and many more. What we all try to do is find a list of places that are good at teaching what you want to study, are on your intellectual level, and you like to be there. That last one is very important for those that plan on all four years of undergraduate college. There are places in cities, in rural areas, big campuses, small campuses, and many other factors.

Then there is the whole messy business of worrying over ACT and SAT scores, GPA, extra-curricular  applying and essays, freaking out over cost and scholarships and financial aid, being accepted into hopefully AT LEAST one college, then deciding on which one to go to that has accepted you, figuring out which classes to take and then moving into a dorm. Most of that goes on while trying to graduate from high school. I really don’t know how I’m going to survive that.

In my last post, I told readers about part of my summer college search, but neglected to mention my future ambitions with an occupation. At the moment I plan to major in Anthropology and Art History in undergraduate. My life’s goal had been to get a doctorate, but the problem presenting itself at the moment is that too many subjects interest me! Who knows, maybe I’ll get more than one degree! For now Anthropology seems a good topic to learn a lot of stuff (It IS the study of the human race after all!), and Art is one of the most constant interests of my life.

We shall see! Here’s to the Future!


Maggie
Fairhope, AL
USA

What I Want to do After High School

My dream is Journalism. I'm not quite sure yet of which kind, but definitely Journalism. Something to do with Sports would be amazing, or writing for the Times in London or New York. Who knows ;) It would be my dream and I know it's hard to get a job and be good in this area, but I'm ready to take all arising challenges.

After high school I always wanted to have a gap year, but now I think it's better until I've at least my bachelor and be 21 to do this. I want to go the UK - England or Scottland, I don't mind. My number 1 would be King's College in London, but to be accepted to Glasgow or Edinburgh would not leave me unhappy. I'm excited for college and I believe that already now, in high school and especially IB, we have a chance to be already prepared for that. In our school, we get many chances to do interesting things, which will also look amazing on the CV- and in the end, you always want to have something that will make the universities accept you and not the other person.

In case UK will fail, which I really don't hope!, I'll probably apply to the American University of Paris, as they have lower requirements and also interesting courses and it would be nice to live in Paris- I mean, why not? Sure, I'd prefer to go to UK though.

In the end of August I'm going to hit the UK and visit the 3 universities I listed above and I can't tell how excited I am. I miss London a lot and I can't wait to see my beloved Scottish Highlands again. I fell in love 2 years ago and this and the fact that UK has the top universities made me want to go there for my studies. And living in London for 3 or 4 years? I'm up to it right now.

Hugs

Natalia 

Zugerberg 

Switzerland 

When it’s Time Grow up...

Once there was a time when every father in India wanted their son to be either a doctor, engineer or cricketer. Had their son achieved any of these professions, they would be proud parents and would have the license to brag in the neighborhood. The daughters job would be to stay at home and serve her father. Luckily enough, people have changed with time and now all children have the liberty to dream and work towards their dreams. Take a random survey and you’ll find young boys and girls wanting to become interior designers, property dealers, fashion designers and myriads of other things. Now that children are free to decide their own future (at least in most households), it is their call to decide which college or university they want to go to. Thanks to IB, international placements are far more easier for indian students.

I live in Mumbai, a city filled with colleges and universities that offer courses for bachelor’s and master’s degrees. After passing through high school, one would see many students taking up courses in one of these colleges however, some may go ahead and prepare for SAT’s or IELTS for a more cultural experience or in hope to find a job in another country. Although a lot depends on the financial status of their family. Those who are well off financially may dream to get a place in universities abroad such as NYU, Kings, LSE or even MIT. The others however, may try their best to get a scholarship. This creates a lot of competition amongst the youngsters in turn motivating them to work hard. Apart from studies, internships are also getting common amongst college going students in attempt to get experience and also make their résumé as attractive as possible. On the other hand, there are also a few kids who choose to drop out of college and join their huge family businesses.

I personally am hoping to get into the HR college of Bombay University to pursue a degree of Bachelors in Management Studies (BMS) and further do MBA abroad specializing in marketing. My primary plan is join my dad at Sheetal Manufacturing Company and then further develop my own projects. So this is the what the after school life in India looks like in the current years with the increasing scope in different fields as the country goes through its industrialization stage.


Parth
Aamby
India

I Lied !!!

So, I realize that I informed readers that there would be articles every month from the student editors.

Guess what?...I lied.

Exams took my coordinating tactics by surprise in the month of June, when every editor emailed me in a frenzied zombie state of test induced hysterics. In order not to burden our darling editors too badly, I gave them the month off.

So what have they been doing? Natalia finished exams and went to Tanzania. Andrea is completing her extended essay and internal assessments. Parth has exams and extended essay things to do. Leila is busy with internals and is traveling. The last time I heard from Sam he was doing exams as well.

What am I doing you ask? Since I finished the school year in May, I already finished exams. What I just finished doing actually ties in wonderfully with what next month's topic is about! We will be talking about life after High School, and I just finished a week long tour of colleges with my Mother.

We started off at a brisk 6:00AM with our lucky action figures and favorite radio station!

We ended up at the University of the South in Tennessee! We got a wonderful tour! (me on the right the guide on the left)

 

On our six hour drive to Ohio, we stopped to see Abraham Lincoln's birthplace. I also found the BEST bandages EVER at the gift shop!!!!!!

We finally got to Ohio and and Kenyon College. It is a beautiful place founded in 1824, and at the top of my list!

Next we drove to Virginia and Washington & Lee University. It is a very old and history filled place with A LOT of columns!

After that we went to Furman University in South Carolina and Emory University in Georgia! Unfortunately we neglected to take pictures there!

There you have it! That was what I did last week! This week I traveled to Florida to be with my Grandparents and cousins (They flew in from Hawaii, and I have not seen them in a year!)

Look forward to the editors talking about their futures next month, and I hope you enjoy!

Maggie
Fairhope, AL
USA