Byesville Rotary club learns how Meadowbrook helps students plan for their future

Pictured: Joe Waske, Speaker Host and Andrea Woodby, Meadowbrook High School Guidance Counselor.

Reading for next meeting: September Rotarian, "How Africa can feed itself and the world," p. 36.

Andrea Woodby, Guidance Counselor for Meadowbrook High School spoke to the Byesville club about how Meadowbrook staff members encourage their students to plan for life after high school. She stated that the job of the guidance counselor and other high school staff is to insure that each graduating student will be prepared for the future.

Preparation begins when the students are in 8^th grade. Woodby helps each student develop an individualized high school schedule that is based on the student’s interests and grades. Once students reach high school, they are encouraged to consider different possibilities for their future. Real people involved in real jobs are invited as speakers to introduce students to different job possibilities. Speakers can include members of the military, representatives from the local Mid East Career and Technology Center, and business people from the local community.

Getting accepted into college or other post secondary programs and paying for advanced education takes more planning today than it did in the past. Woodby reported that costs for attending state (public) colleges and universities averages about $20,000 per year. Cost for private colleges and universities range from $30,000 to $50,000 per year. Students and parents need to begin to plan and prepare early.

Meadowbrook provides resources to help students and parents make informed decisions. Special software programs designed to help students explore different colleges and their fees are provided. The school also sponsors several events aimed at helping students and parents make informed decisions. At the College Night event, 50-60 representatives from various colleges and universities are available to talk to parents and students. Two additional events, Financial Aid Night and College Goal Night, are open to any parent and/or student that would like help filling out all the paperwork involved in applying to a school or applying for financial help or scholarships.

Woodby ended by pointing out that 60% of Meadowbrook students go on to attend some type of post secondary education.

The club meets 7:30 am every Tuesday at the Stop Nine Senior Center at 60313 (GPS use 60299) Southgate Road, Byesville. Anyone interested in learning more about the Byesville Rotary can call Membership Chairs Marty Patchen, 740-685-3828, or Evelyn Spring, 740-439-4343.