Right before heading off to a well-deserved winter break, the Verona High School juniors and seniors had the opportunity to meet with past VHS graduates and talk about college. Naturally, most students have had countless discussions with teachers, guidance counselors, and parents about college and what to expect. These experts have provided information on scholarships, pricing, safety, and more. However, the opportunity to talk to students who are actually experiencing college life first hand, was quite different. The VHS graduates who came to Verona High School varied in age, major, school, and lifestyle, and thus were able to provide all sorts of valuable information. Graduates Julia Burke, Grace Gault, Matt Nagy, Maggie Ashley, Evan Huaman, Lauren Brown, Maeve McGinley, Henry Noren, and Elizabeth Hensal took the time to help out some hopeful and eager soon-to-be college students. 

A large number of VHS Students are unsure of what kind of campus they want- big, small, rural, urban- yet, the graduates were able to tell them all about the values of each style. Some students attend large state schools where they made friends easily through sports, while others attend a small university where friends are made through clubs and sororities/fraternities. The up-to-date and credible information provided by the former VHS students helped to put different aspects of college into perspective. 

Verona High School students also had the opportunity to ask the students individual questions, including those about scholarships, transferring, and missing home. High school students know that i can be difficult to ask these more personal questions to adults who want to focus on the “getting-in” part of college. Being able to ask actual college students about the realities of going to school away from home was eye-opening and relieving for many students. 

College is a big part of each person’s life, as it is a home for four years, and an education that lasts a lifetime. It can be frightening for many young adults to look at their next four years and not know the first thing about what they want. These past VHS students were able to start the conversation about what college is really like and ease the nerves of these young and ambitious students.