As an incoming junior, I still have a while before I have to head off to college; however, no one else seems to think that. All I ever hear anymore is “where are you going to college” and “what do you want to be when you’re older?”

At high school, students are pulling their hair out and biting their nails to bits over what they should do after they graduate. Should they go to a four-year or two-year school? Private or public college? Close to home or far away? Work or go to school? There are so many options out there, and how are we supposed to know what’s going to be the best for us?

At Albert Lea High School they try to incorporate Riverland into our options. A lot of students choose to go there after graduation because it’s close to home and they know it’s safe.

Safety is an option, but sometimes it’s good to get out there and experience things.

At school, students are eligible to take college classes to try and prepare us for the workload and stress of college. By offering these classes, we can also get college credit that rolls over to your college, depending on where you go. By utilizing this, you can knock off up to two years of college.

Many students are also going post secondary at Riverland, which helps them get the feel for the college atmosphere.

With the price of college escalating, these College in the Schools classes are helpful to take without paying the college price.

Even though I still have a while before college, it doesn’t hurt to look into the options early. With the help of websites they give us at school, we find out information on colleges that fit our personality and possible career choices.

Trying new things and getting into clubs that are similar to something you may want to be is another good way to feel out some careers.

Personally, I wouldn’t mind going to college somewhere on the East Coast where I can try out new adventures and possibilities in my life — perhaps Boston University or NYU if I’m lucky. For now I have to keep persevering in my school work and extracurriculars to try and make my dream real. Without the efforts of the staff at Albert Lea High School I wouldn’t be able to make these ideas come to life.

 

Madeline Funk is a Tribune summer intern and incoming junior at Albert Lea High School.