Last week, I had the opportunity to attend a reception welcoming Todd Flaherty, the new director of the College Crusade (www.thecollegecrusade.org)—a local nonprofit aimed at curbing dropout rates and promoting college attendance through mentoring and scholarships.
I enjoyed meeting the advisors who work in middle and high schools to help students succeed in school and prepare for college. The mentoring offered as students deal with both the challenges of growing up and of excelling in school is vital. When a student reaches college and succeeds there, a world of opportunities opens up.
As Tom and I get ready to send our daughter Nora to college next fall, I am particularly aware of the importance of guidance and support through the final years of high school. We’re having a great time visiting potential colleges and thinking about the best fit for Nora. She is also working hard in school to make sure the door she wants to walk through is open for her because she has the grades and experience to be accepted.
There’s another local nonprofit that helps first-generation college-goers navigate this sometimes-confusing college application and enrollment process called College Visions (www.collegevisions.org).
Both College Crusade and College Visions provide crucial support at a critical time in young lives. It is exciting to think and dream about your future. I’m so glad that the students in the College Crusade and College Visions are being supported in those dreams.