Monday, June 26, 2017

But...What Do Colleges Prefer?

Ever wonder about which choice is right when it comes to classes, clubs, community service with regards to getting in to your college?  Looking good to an Office of Admission is a top priority for a student who wants to go to that college, but we can't do everything, right?  We only have 16 awake hours in our days, so picking "what to leave in/what to leave out" becomes an important part of the high school experience.  Maybe this blog post from Ashley Brookshire on the Southern Association of College Admission Counseling Blog Page will serve as a compass as you navigate these waters we call High School.

http://www.sacac.org/blog/

Thursday, June 22, 2017

Scholarship for Rising Seniors- This Is an Early One

We wanted to reach out again to let you know that we have renewed our College Success Scholarship for 2018. At Study.com, our mission is to make education accessible. Our College Success Scholarship gives one lucky student $1,000 to help with their tuition. We would love for your community of students to take advantage of this scholarship next time around!

Applying for the College Success Scholarship
Students need to apply by April 1, 2018, which gives them plenty of time to submit the quick and easy application! We will choose one winner based on their free response submissions.
To submit their application, students must visit this page: http://study.com/blog/college-success-scholarship-by-study-com.html

Eligibility Requirements
In order to participate in the scholarship contest, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent U.S. Resident
  • Must be enrolled (or accepted) in an accredited college or university
  • Graduating high school seniors who meet the above mentioned criteria may apply


Sincerely,
Subho N Dutta

Monday, June 19, 2017

Secretary of State Student Ambassador Program

We would like to introduce a new opportunity for your students for the 2017-2018 school year. The Student Ambassador Program is a leadership development program for high school students that centers on civic engagement, voter registration promotion, and volunteerism.  This statewide program is engaging Georgia’s next generation of leaders with their communities.  Throughout the year, students will plan events like speaking to their peers about the importance of voting, assisting them in registering to vote, attending local civic meetings, and volunteering within their communities.  The Secretary of State Student Ambassador Program is the first of its kind in Georgia.  During the 2016-17 school year, 102 schools and over 850 students across the state participated.
The program is free to join, and there is a team at the Secretary of State’s office dedicated to assisting local schools and ensuring the success of the program. Each school is allowed to select up to 9 representatives.  In the fall, these students will attend one of our 6 Regional Kick-Off events.  At these events, students will receive all of the training and materials they will need to be successful in the program.

A student ambassador from 2016-17 states, "I am a rising senior and have participated in the Student Ambassador Program for two years. I have benefited from the program in unimaginable ways. I have witnessed the power of the Secretary of State Student Ambassador Program to empower students in leadership and create involved citizens. Personally, my communication, public speaking, and organizational skills have greatly improved as a result of my involvement in the program. In addition to personal growth, I have benefited from pouring back into my community by helping people register to vote, working closely with my teammates and administrators, providing my peers with the knowledge necessary to make their voice heard, and developing the leadership culture of my school. Every student should have access to this opportunity, and every school and community will benefit from the investment of its students in the program."

For more information, or to join the Student Ambassador Program, please contact the Secretary of State’s Outreach Team at ambassadorsupport@sos.ga.gov or (404) 6540-6045. You may also visit our website at http://sos.ga.gov/index.php/general/student_ambassador_program.

Thursday, June 8, 2017

Georgia Military College Move On When Ready Classes?

Are you interested in taking Georgia Military College Move On When Ready for next year?  It is not too late!  The link below will give you the necessary information and steps to apply for this opportunity.  In addition, you can take an Accuplacer here at Social Circle this summer on June 27th at 9 AM.  The second link will allow you to register for this test.

It is not too late to get this done and start earning free college credits and working up to your full potential!

Georgia Military College Move On When Ready Admission Information

Register to Take the Accuplacer on June 27th

Mental Health Awareness

The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities, Office of Behavioral Health Prevention, has created a 30-second PSA promoting mental health awareness and reducing stigma.


"Spot the Signs. Talk About It. Get Help" encourages individuals all over the state to listen to one another, reach out, and encourage help-seeking for anyone struggling with mental or emotional issues.

Here is a short promotional video:

Great Post Called "Thirteen Reasons Why Not"

The recent television series based upon the novel, Thirteen Reasons Why, has sparked praise and concern from many who seek to grapple with suicide and its impact on our society.  This series roughly chronicles thirteen cassette taped recordings that were sent to various people by the main character who recently completed suicide.  Many of these tapes were sent to people who were mean or bullied the main character.  It was most likely the intent of the author to make all of us aware of the power of our words and actions on others who may be hurting.  This is certainly an important point for us all to keep in mind as we deal with others.

It is my fear, however, that there was an unintended consequence of this story in that it causes a person who has experienced difficulties to focus on every infraction that a peer group makes and seeks to plan out a self -injurious, romanticized reaction designed to assign blame.  For a person who is suffering depression, a more therapeutic course of action would be to focus on the things that are right.  Maybe the old folks had it right when they sang in church, "Count Your Many Blessings."

If you are reading this and are struggling with depression or love someone who is, please know that what you are going through is real, and incredibly difficult.  Amid all of the hurt that you are going through, shifting focus toward hope-filled things is grabbing hold of the life-line of protective factors that are all around you but are obscured by the fog that is your depression.  I am shooting out a link that I stumbled across last night that is a open letter from a survivor to a friend who completed suicide.  It is is titled "Thirteen Reasons Why Not."  It offers so much hope to anyone reading this who might be dealing with thoughts of suicide.

Thirteen Reasons Why Not

Last, if you are struggling, let Mr. Kulp talk with you and help you.  You are not in it alone, and this is a temporary thing you are going through.  We got this, if you will come talk to me or another trusted counselor, pastor or friend.

P.S.- I will be at the school a lot this summer, but if I am not at school, here is a phone number that you can call to get help: 1 (800) 273-8255.