By Mary Pritchard, Contributing Writer
Shrewsbury – Dr. Lorretta Holloway, associate professor of English at Framingham State University presented “The Importance of Middle School Years to College and Career Readiness” at Oak Middle School recently. Parents were invited to the presentation during which Holloway spoke about what students and parents can do to prepare for college.
She was joined by Shrewsbury High School (SHS) Principal Todd Bazydlo, who discussed what SHS has to offer, as many eighth-graders are contemplating where they will attend high school.
On Oct. 30, approximately 500 eighth-grade students were invited to a presentation, which Holloway designed specifically for them. In this interactive presentation, Holloway encouraged students to recognize that “middle school students are not too young to think seriously about life after high school, that middle school does count, and no matter where they go, the next four years matter.”
Holloway explained to students that taking schoolwork seriously gives them more choices and that a high school diploma and college degree will increase their income. She also noted that colleges are “not looking for the number of extracurricular activities, but more the dedication to one or two, showing loyalty and devotion to what they are doing.”
She suggested that students think about how they want to live and what colleges and employers are looking for. She also encouraged students to explore what they like, and while engaging in school and activities, they “find ways to have fun through expanding old activities and finding new ones, and step away from screens.”
The presentations, which were organized by Mrs. Sue DiLeo, eighth-grade counselor at Oak Middle School, included many ways parents and middle school students can be better prepared for the future.
