Getting Ready For High School
Since I started working on this project, I have talked to many parents about what they did or what they are planning to do when their child goes to college regarding student loans.
I learned how some of them solved this problem, and I also learned that some parents had no clue, or just did not think at all about how their child’s education would get paid.
Honestly, I’m not surprised because when I was growing up I never thought about going to college and it was never a conversation I had with my parents.
When I finished seventh grade in New Jersey, my parents sent me to Germany for three years to a private Hungarian school where I was to learn how to read and write in my language of origin. While there I learned about my culture and the history of Hungary but I didn’t want to be there. The reason my family did this was because we lived in a tough neighborhood, and my parents were too busy working to take care of me. They didn’t want me to be a latchkey child and get in with the wrong crowd.
Looking back at those years, they were difficult for me but as I look back at it now, my parents made the right decision. When I came back to the United States to continue my education in high school they put me into all senior classes and was a good student. When it came time for me to graduate, they told me I couldn’t because I did not have English I, II and III.
The following year I was a senior again and completed the required English classes. Again when it came time to graduate, they told me I did not have Math I, II and II and could not graduate.
I asked my math teacher to give me a test since I had advanced math while in Germany, but they told me she could not do that. My guidance counselor was not the kindest person and was no help at all.
While I was in high school, my parents were still working ten or more hours every day to make ends meet. They were hard working immigrants who did not speak very good English, did not know how the school system worked.
I ended up dropping out and joined the U.S. Army. While I was in the military I completed my GED, and when my two years were up, as I was processing out I learned about the G.I. Bill, which until that time I never heard of before.
Two years after I got out, I went back to college and the G.I. Bill paid for everything. I consider myself one of the lucky ones who took advantage of the opportunity that available to me.
Both my parents have since passed away, and I have grown up as a patriotic American, and have become hands on dad. My son and I are close and I am fortunate to be involved in his life in ways that my parents could not be with me.
The reason I shared this is because my parents were too busy working and did not know how what I was going through. I don’t blame them, because they were good parents, and I loved them dearly. As I look back, I can honestly say that everything worked out for me, but it could have been a lot easier.
I know today I don’t want my son to go through what I went through. I am involved with him with school work, his extra-curricular activities, and we talk and do many things together that I didn’t get to do with my parents when I was his age. I have missed none of his track meets, his band concerts nor any other school activities that involves him.
I am very involved in getting him ready for high school and getting him on track for college. As I share my experience with my son, I now realize what my parents didn’t know and why I had such a difficult time in high school.
I have no regrets, and, and things worked out, but I had to do it my way, which wasn’t always easy. My goal is to guide my son on his journey and make sure it will be easier for him than it was for me.
I’m certain he will also have some difficulties and challenges, and they will be different than mine were, but that’s life. We will deal with them as they come along
The world has changed since I was in high school, and will continue to change. Education in America differs from other countries and some things are better here and some things are worse. Having gone to school in Germany was an eye opener, and a great learning experience, but I don’t want my son to go through that and be away from his family, and neither does he. All we can do is deal with our current situation and work together to make things as easy for him as we can.
Just the other day my son asked me what the difference was between AP and Honors classes in high school. I didn’t know, so I went online to check it out and found the answer.
What I learned is that both AP (Advanced Placement) and Honors classes are more difficult than regular high school courses. However if he enrolls in AP courses, he might receive college credits, but if he enrolls in Honors courses, he will not have that benefit available to him.
Last week I called the high school that my son will attend in the fall and spoke with his guidance counselor. I told her he had already taken his College Credit Plus tests at the local community college and they have accepted him into the College Credit Plus program. This means he will take courses in high school that will allow him to earn college credits.
The reason for my call was to ask for her guidance and to find out if there was anything else that needed to be done before he starts high school. I informed her he is taking all honors classes as a freshman and he will not be taking any college-level courses the first year. Since he is already taking so many advanced courses I don’t want him to have too much stress on him.
She agreed, and I promised to look her up in September to continue our conversation. She sounds like a knowledgeable and concerned person, and I’m certain that my son will be in good hands, and I feel good about that.
In the meantime my son signed up for an on line Udemy course MONEY – Personal Financial Literacy for High School Students which we started last weekend. My reason for this is to have him learn and understand as much as he can about money, for personal, academic and business purposes.
Student loans are all about the money, and I want him to understand as much as possible about the problems that debt causes, and the sooner the better. The course is online and very convenient to complete on his computer. He should finish the course in the next few weeks and then he will go on a five week vacation to visit his grandfather, his uncle and some friends in Hungary.
Yesterday my son met with the high school band members and his music instructor, and I and the other parents met with the band organizers and got briefed on what to expect when school starts. After going over the material they gave us, I realized that my son’s life will transform next year.
He is an honor student and a member of the high school concert band, jazz band and the marching band. He will have a busy schedule as a freshman but I’m certain he will learn a great deal and I will see him change in front of my eyes. I am super grateful that we live in a great community with excellent schools.
The teachers I have met so far are exceptional and I can already see he will be in good hands for the next four years as he establishes a solid foundation as he gets ready for college.
I found a great deal of information on the Internet that you might also want to read or share with your child before the freshman year starts. I found them both informative and invaluable. How to Get Ready for High School and A Guide to Freshman Year
Today was his last day as an 8th grader. When he comes home from vacation, he will have a week off and after that he has band practice and band camp to look forward to until school starts.
I hope you got something out of this, and I wish you a great day until next time.
Goulash