GEAR UP for Students in the Class of 2012
It's Your Future
Think you're too young to plan your future? Think again. Experts recommend you begin planning for college as early as the fifth grade. Right now you probably think college is a long way off and you have plenty of time to think about that later. Many college bound students today thought the same way when they were your age. Now, as they get ready to enter college they see there were many things they could have done differently in middle and high school that would make the transition to college easier. Some college students enroll not even knowing what career they wish to pursue after they graduate. Hopefully, that will not be you. With the Kentucky ILP (Individual Learning Plan) you will know what careers match your interests and you can take classes that will prepare you to enter those careers. Today a college degree is required for many of those jobs and your earning potential in those exciting new careers will be greater than any generation before you. On average you can earn as much as 40 percent or more money over your lifetime than someone that does not have a college education. Not only is more money possible, college graduates are more likely to have more meaningful, interesting jobs, freedom to make decisions, and rate themselves as happier with a satisfying life. It's never too early to think about your future. It's never too early to think about college. GEAR UP can help you reach your dreams.
You Can Do It!
By no means let someone tell you that you can not go to college or pursue some other type of education after high school. With hard work and the right courses in middle and high school the possibilities are unlimited. As a member of the Class of 2012 you are special in regard to this grant project. You have lots of opportunities to be ready when the time comes to enter college. You are encouraged to be active in your school's GEAR UP program, study hard, and do your very best in all your classes. Many activities and events have been planned for you and your parents to help you reach the goal of not only attending but being successful in a postsecondary institution after high school. Some of these include, college visits, one-on-one counseling and instruction, mentoring, parent involvement, financial aid workshops, Individual Learning Plans (ILP) development, community activities, ACT preparation, career awareness, summer camp, and many more. For more details contact the GEAR UP Site Coordinator at your school.
Additional information may be found at the Kentucky Council for Postsecondary Education web site at http://cpe.ky.gov then click on the "For Students" link.
Mike Hughes
GEARUP Coordinator
1906 College Heights Blvd. #21031
WKU - Bowling Green, KY 42101