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SCHOLARSHIPS AND JOB SHADOWS - PREPARING FOR YOUR FUTURE
Scholarships
Preparing for college can be stressful. On top of senior year activities and college applications, scholarships can seem overwhelming. So much time and effort for what? We (Rylee and Ava) thought the same thing, so we set out to find some answers to our questions. After talking to Mrs. Carlo, Clear Creek Amana’s Counselor, about the ins and outs of scholarships, we realized that they don’t have to be so stressful or overwhelming. In fact, with the new information we received, we realized that scholarships can alleviate some of the pressure of preparing for life after high school.
When is a good time to start applying for scholarships? When thinking about scholarships, many seniors are confused about when the best time to apply is. Am I applying too early? Am I applying too late? You’re not alone. We’ve discovered that the best time to apply for scholarships is NOW! It is never too late and most definitely never too early to apply. Mrs. Carlo mentioned, “Right now, many national, state, and college scholarships are open and accepting applications.” If you didn’t get a chance to apply for those scholarships, don’t worry; more local scholarship opportunities are available in the winter. Because they are more locally based, these scholarships have less applicants. Less applicants means more opportunities for you to be the one to receive the money.
Graphic design by Kailee Carver.
What are some benefits of scholarships?
The benefits of scholarships are endless; according to Mrs. Carlo, “Scholarships are essentially free money.” Who doesn’t love free money? Scholarships, unlike student loans, don’t have to be paid back. This sets a student up for the workforce and life outside of high school with a little less money to pay back. Instead of paying back thousands of dollars of student loans, you will be able to invest in a house, car, or even your retirement. On top of that, scholarships can be fairly simple to apply for. Oftentimes, the questions are easy and quick to answer.
How many scholarships should you apply for?
One of the biggest questions asked when it comes to scholarships is “How many should I apply for?” When talking to Carlo, she stated that applying for as many scholarships as you can will better your chances of earning scholarship money. There is no guarantee that you will get every scholarship you apply for, so the more the better!
Is there any other information that is important to know about scholarships?
When interviewing Mrs. Carlo, we asked her if there was more important information about scholarships that some people might not think about when applying for scholarships; she stated, “You can reuse and adapt essays you’ve already written when applying for scholarships!” Many scholarships have similar essay questions, so starting from scratch is not necessary for each scholarship. Mrs. Carlo recommends that you create one or two strong opening paragraphs that introduce who you are, your interests, accomplishments, activities, and experiences throughout high school. You can then add or adjust a paragraph or two to address the specific question or topic for each scholarship.
At the end of the interview, she stated that many seniors have shared with the Counseling Department that they aren’t confident about where to start when it comes to putting together a strong application. To help those seniors, she said the Counseling Department is putting together scholarship information, tips, and resources that they will be sharing with students soon, so keep an eye out for more information.
Job Shadows
Job shadows provide many opportunities for high school students. They allow students to explore and learn more about the careers that they are interested in.
On top of that, each job shadow is worth one credit hour. After speaking more with Mr. Macumber, we have discovered answers to many of the questions that students may have relating to job shadows.
When should I start doing job shadows?
A good time to start job shadows heavily depends on you as an individual. As you continue to further your education, certain occupations may pique your interest. When that time comes, a great idea is to look into those occupations. Are there opportunities for a job shadow in this occupation or other related fields? The answer is most likely yes! Most people believe that your junior year is a great time to start looking for these opportunities.
What are some benefits of job shadows?
The main benefit of a job shadow is the opportunity to look into the field you may want to go into. After a job shadow, students can reflect on their experience and decide if they are still interested in the career that they shadowed or if they want to explore other careers. This clarity allows a student to better plan their high school courses and their post-high school goals. On top of that, job shadows look great on college applications, resumes, and are even worth credit.
Other important information about job shadows
It is important to remember that job shadows are here for you, the student. Throughout our experience in high school we are taught many things that leave us wondering, “How will this help us in the real world?” Job shadows are one of the main opportunities in high school that have an impact on the real world and a students’ life post-graduation.
In Summary
Both scholarships and job shadows provide students with opportunities to better plan for the future. Scholarships are essentially free money and you can start applying for as many as you want whenever you want. Job shadows provide clarity to students who are more curious about a certain career. Additionally, they are worth credit and look great on applications and resumes. Scholarships and job shadows may seem scary or overwhelming at first, but after learning more about them, it is easy to see that they are simple and rewarding.
