Road begins in ninth grade

By: ADAM KAYE -- Staff Writer
Counselor: Start high school with challenging courses | Friday, February 8, 2008 3:15 PM PST ∞

Those first days and weeks on a high school campus can be intimidating for a ninth-grader. The campuses can seem sprawling, schedules confusing, and some students are grown up enough to grow mustaches.

And to intensify the transition, teachers and counselors already are starting to talk about college.

That's what they should be doing, and students and their parents should understand that the road to college begins in ninth grade, said Rik Napora, head counselor for the San Dieguito Union High School District.

In the San Dieguito district, which stretches from south Carlsbad to Carmel Valley, officials estimate more than eight in 10 graduates move on to four-year colleges and universities. For most of them, smooth travel through high school is the result of planning early and often, he said.

"The most important thing for freshmen is to meet with a counselor and make sure you're taking the right classes, that everything in which you're enrolled is putting you toward the right path," Napora said.

Besides fulfilling graduation requirements, course choices should be challenging. Counselors can help students interpret test scores and choose appropriate courses based upon their intellect and interests.

A challenging course load drives students to develop good study habits early, Napora said. It also demonstrates the importance of hard work.

"You should be taking the most challenging courses you can, period," he said.

Most high schools require ninth-graders to take math, English, PE and science. Some students, though, might be better suited to take advanced courses in those disciplines.

"The worst thing for a freshman to do is take classes that are way beneath them," Napora said. "Their eyes are going to roll back in their head and they're going to go to sleep."

In addition to working hard at school, students can gain momentum on their road to college by completing community service.

Community service might not be an admissions requirement at some colleges, but evidence of altruism enlivens any college application and catches the attention of reviewers, he said.

"In life you should find something you have a passion for and share that passion with others," Napora said.

Hospitals, social service agencies and churches are good starting points for teens to seek opportunities to volunteer. Students should keep a journal of their volunteer activities and file all proof of good deeds for when it's time to assemble those college applications.

When ninth grade is finished, summer shouldn't be all about relaxing.

Napora suggests that students seek activities that play into their passions. Some might go to France to learn French or visit Third World countries to understand how people in those places live. Sports, band or arts camps can cultivate skills in those areas. Like the volunteer work, interests and passions should go into a journal, too.

Above all, he said, the road to college is filled with checkpoints known as graduation requirements. Every school has them, and Napora suggests that every student get a copy and post them.

"Bump up graduation requirements to No. 1 priority," he said. "Print them out and put them on the refrigerator."

Contact staff writer Adam Kaye at (760) 901-4074 or akaye@nctimes.com.

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