Blog & Calendar
Blog
College Counseling's "Transitions to College" Programming for Seniors
Getting our students at CCES “college ready” is an all-encompassing, years-long process that begins in earlier grades and culminates in the Upper School with three phenomenal college counselors who are dedicated to working with each student to help them find their best college match. But in 2018, CCES College Counseling took their personalized and comprehensive programming one-step further through introducing what is now known as Transitions to College: School Life, Academics, and Healthy Relationships. This three-day series for seniors focuses on the things we all wish we’d known before going to college, but no one ever told us.
This year, the week kicked off with an Alumni Panel on Monday, held in the Chapel of the Good Shepherd. The session was moderated by Associate Director of College Counseling, Bartley Sides, with five CCES alumni sharing insights from their college experiences, speaking specifically about school life. These panelists were asked questions including:
- What is your favorite part of college?
- What do you wish you had known before entering college?
- How have you found opportunities to get involved?
- Have your study skills changed from high school?
- What do you miss most about CCES?
Panelists included: Betty Frances Thomason ’22 (Emory University), Ramiah Dogan ’22 (Furman University), Abigail Pickens ’22 (Duke University), McCrady Mann ’21 (University of South Carolina), and Mac Ridgeway ’21 (Rhodes College).
On Tuesday, students participated in workshops on self-defense and relationship boundaries. On the baseball field, Ashley Bickerstaff and Terence Brister from Unified Self-Defense, educated students in simple and effective techniques that they could easily retain. Ashley is a home invasion survivor and a huge advocate of self-defense classes. Terence is the owner and a State Certified Law Enforcement Officer with over 13 years of experience in the military, law enforcement, and personal protection services.
The relationship boundaries session was with Dr. Melisa Holmes, current CCES parent, M.D., and Girlology/Guyology co-founder. Dr. Holmes discussed a range of topics around relationships, boundaries, and consent. She emphasized all the different choices these students will soon be faced with and how each one can have an effect on their college career path.
Last year, Upper School Administration added another session to the Transitions to College series – a personal finance workshop – after receiving requests from parents and students. Lacy Reid and Lesley Baker, both with First Citizens Bank, spoke with students about basic finance skills, including different types of accounts, the do’s and don’ts of building credit, and the importance of time in investing.
This programming would not be possible without the Upper School administration and College Counseling teams that help coordinate everything, as well as our guest speakers who graciously give their time to come share with students. Every year, seniors enjoy this Transitions to College series and leave CCES not only academically prepared, but more college-ready overall.
No comments have been posted
Christ Church Episcopal School (“CCES”) admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at CCES. CCES does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, national or ethnic origin, creed, religion, or sexual orientation in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, financial aid, scholarship or other programs, or athletic or other school-administered programs and activities.