Future Success: Griffin’s Story

Griffin

Mr. Gordy helped me try and figure it out. He answers questions about admissions and the process for qualifying. He gave me the resources and consequences of certain actions. He gave me the contacts I needed. He would open up ideas. There was no agenda; Mr. Gordy let me examine it all and decide for myself.

Despite being informed about the Future Center in class, I never visited the Future Center as I felt I already knew college was too hard to get into and too expensive. This would prove as a great mistake, as the Future Center advisor did not just consult me about US college-related information, such as foreign language placement exams, but they also encouraged me to at least apply for college. I was glad to do so, because even though I had a low ACT, UW-Platteville accepted me and soon after, other colleges in Wisconsin were sending acceptance letters. Without applying, the belief may have always been that college was unattainable for me.

I am technically not a resident student. I live with my grandparents.  My parents live in Netherlands. Living there, because of the language, would have put me extremely behind in the education system. I am applying for residency when I turn 18. I would have to hold off my education for a year to establish residency, and I do not want to wait.

Mr. Gordy came in to English class to speak in the fall. I started by asking him a question about transferring credits/or enrolling in a German university. I was dead set on studying in Germany. Education is more affordable that way and somewhat prestigious. I was also dead set to be a teacher. But throughout the process, I considered so many factors, but ultimately, I wanted to live in the U.S. So, I am willing to go through the hurdles to stay here.

I’m scared about taking this year off between high school and university. I want to get started. The longer I wait, I feel the harder it’s going to be. I want to get back on track for my education in the U.S. So, then I can be ready to apply for teaching jobs in five or six years.”

I think the job fairs were helpful plus Mr. Gordy provided a lot of information, I feel like I wouldn’t have found out about.  I went on a campus tour and Mr. Gordy and I had a lot of one-on-one sessions especially talking about financial aid.  We explored Viterbo and Western option to bring down the cost of my education.

Now I have decided to attend UW-Green Bay which I never could have dreamed of in the past. I want to get secondary education certificate and teach somewhere in Wisconsin.

Significantly, this choice was not influenced too much by the Future Center as they gave me the freedom to decide fully on my own, however what the Future Center did do is offer the resources to make the right decision.  Mr. Gordy consulted me and gave me all of his attention, looked at many options that lay available and he always was able to call a representative of a school if a question came up. Adding to this the Future Center made trips to universities, which is a major factor for students for many students unable to make the trip on free days or the weekends.

The Future Center service is essential to help us determine steps after college. They help you make the right decision. It is also important to note to students unsure about going to the Future Center, that the Future Center is not only about attending college, but it’s about your future personally. The Future Center is not present everywhere and in some small towns, students are limited when visiting their guidance counselor, therefore, this resource should be used while it is there as it can only inform you of your potential.

I hear from my parents about school being too expensive. I had brushed off all the fears about debt. I realize that I can afford an average-priced school — knowing the value of what I’m paying for, which reinforces the importance of making the most of it. I am trying to be optimistic about it. It helps to just be excited for the years ahead. And it’s common to have student debt. I am most excited about being independent and the idea of getting deeper into education. In high school I feel like it’s a much broader base of education. In college, I can get to the specific and details of things.

If there was no Future Center, I likely would have stayed determined on my path to go to Germany. I would not have found this path to going to UW-Green Bay. I wouldn’t have the access to resources to talk this through and to visit campus at Green Bay, which was very important for me.”

The Future Center opened my eyes. I came here thinking I wouldn’t be able to go to a university in the U.S. – that it was too expensive, too complicated, and I was lacking in math education. But Mr. Gordy helped me try and figure it out. He answers questions about admissions and the process for qualifying. He gave me the resources and consequences of certain actions. He gave me the contacts I needed. He would open up ideas. There was no agenda; Mr. Gordy let me examine it all and decide for myself.

It’s all about exploring what career opportunities exist. It’s perfectly fine to not know what you want to know. It’s about the future, whatever path you choose. It’s not about persuading people to go a certain direction or to steer them to college. It’s showing us a path and letting us choose it. That’s what the Future Center is all about.