It was my first time speaking to a classroom full of kids. They were middle school students and wanted to learn more about college. They came from a variety of backgrounds and in a multitude of sizes. All were adorable; each of them curious.
“So when you go to college, you get yelled at and stuff by the professors, right?” asked the little boy in the corner, who stuttered a little as he tried to say professors.
“Well, not quite,” I replied with a huge smile as I desperately tried to hold back laughter. “College is a place you go to pursue your dreams. It's where you learn to become the person you want to be in life.”
Their eyes lit up. They had no idea that college was that cool.
Sometimes we forget that just because kids are, well kids, that they're interested in other things besides videogames and iPods. Kids are curious creatures. They're hungry for knowledge and their hungry brains should be fed often.
Maybe you have children under age 10. If you want to talk to them about college, but you don't quite know how, start by asking them what they think college is.
Listen to them. If they stutter, don't interrupt. Let them share their thoughts with you.
Tell your children in simplistic language what college was like for you. Try to keep the discussion short, but keep the conversation going on a regular basis.
Your children don't have to know exactly what college is after one talk. Give them time and be patient. As long as you have the dialogue started and bring it up consistently, you can be assured that your children will make college a goal throughout their young lives.
Kids really do say the darndest things. After taking a little time to talk to them about college, you may learn more about yourself and your children than you ever imagined. You may laugh, you might cry, you may even cry from laughing so hard, but hopefully you and your children are able to lay the foundation for their college dreams.
Confucius is quoted as saying that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. The journey to college might seem long and arduous, but only if we wade in fear, so take those first steps.
For more information, call Anne Raphael at (760) 918-5600 or visit www.mykindofcollege.com.
“So when you go to college, you get yelled at and stuff by the professors, right?” asked the little boy in the corner, who stuttered a little as he tried to say professors.
“Well, not quite,” I replied with a huge smile as I desperately tried to hold back laughter. “College is a place you go to pursue your dreams. It's where you learn to become the person you want to be in life.”
Their eyes lit up. They had no idea that college was that cool.
Sometimes we forget that just because kids are, well kids, that they're interested in other things besides videogames and iPods. Kids are curious creatures. They're hungry for knowledge and their hungry brains should be fed often.
Maybe you have children under age 10. If you want to talk to them about college, but you don't quite know how, start by asking them what they think college is.
Listen to them. If they stutter, don't interrupt. Let them share their thoughts with you.
Tell your children in simplistic language what college was like for you. Try to keep the discussion short, but keep the conversation going on a regular basis.
Your children don't have to know exactly what college is after one talk. Give them time and be patient. As long as you have the dialogue started and bring it up consistently, you can be assured that your children will make college a goal throughout their young lives.
Kids really do say the darndest things. After taking a little time to talk to them about college, you may learn more about yourself and your children than you ever imagined. You may laugh, you might cry, you may even cry from laughing so hard, but hopefully you and your children are able to lay the foundation for their college dreams.
Confucius is quoted as saying that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. The journey to college might seem long and arduous, but only if we wade in fear, so take those first steps.
For more information, call Anne Raphael at (760) 918-5600 or visit www.mykindofcollege.com.