Dozens of students congregated in the halls of John O’Connell High School Wednesday chatting about colleges and careers and making their way from workshop to workshop at the third annual College Seminar Day.
For some, the workshops were a repetition of advice but for most, the experience reassured them that college is where they want to be after high school.
“I don’t want to be a stereotype and I want to make my family proud,” said Marcos Salmeron, as he shared his aspirations to attend San Francisco State University next fall.
Salmeron is among hundreds of high school seniors across the nation gearing up for college application season – writing personal statements, taking numerous exams and filling out scholarship applications.
The John O’Connell College Seminar Day dedicates an entire morning to workshops and seminars with topics ranging from personal statements to financial aid. There are also survival tips for life after high school as well as help filling out college applications. They all get to see the job options for different levels of education.
The event also brings together student and academic representatives from nearby colleges, including San Francisco State University, Skyline College, the Arts Institute and San Francisco City College.
“Now, more than ever, I want the kids to see and know that college is reachable,” said Dr. Martin Gomez, the school principal.“Sometimes students just need that extra push.”
Gomez and other administrative staff hope the day will serve as a wake up call to show students that it’s never too early to plan ahead.
“I think it’s really good that we can learn about college” said Ahdrianna Rash, a young freshman who hopes to one day go to school in Miami.
Many of her peers agreed.
“It’s very educational,” said one student as he munched on his lunch. “Yeah, its cool,” said his friend.
“Very educational,” agreed, Ricardo Gutierrez, a junior. “They’re really telling you to follow your dreams.”
Students were also encouraged to apply to colleges no matter their legal status, informing them about the recently approved Dream Act that allows undocumented students to receive state and private aid to fund their education.
“Since the moment we came here my mom and brothers have told me there is a future,” said Ivan Garcia, a senior. “Going to college is a new way to look at life, academic, social and political.”
The entire day is put on by school staff and 7 Tepees, a youth program that works with inner-city students, guiding them through middle and high school as well as college.
Aime Tat, the 7 Tepees site coordinator at John O’Connell, also happens to be an O’Connell alumna.
“It’s really important for me,” said Tat of the event.
“It’s important to expose the students to college. Anytime I can, I tell them I’m a former graduate. It’s like I’m a living example because we come from similar backgrounds,” said Tat, who graduated from the University of California Santa Barbara in 2008.
As the school bell rang to mark the end of lunch and the end of the event, students continued to walk through the halls, excited to learn more. And just as everyone packed up their college brochures and other gear, one student wandered to his class excitedly pumping his fist in the air, saying “college, college.”