Senior Year At Eastland
Year In Review
During my early years of high school, I was heading in no direction whatsoever. I was not driven to do anything. Nor did I have any passions. Grades weren't great, and at the time I really just didn't care. It was at that point, at at the end of my sophomore year of high school, that I decided to make a change in my life. In the summer of 2012, I decided to attend a new school, a career center named Eastland Career Center. This school has many programs ranging from criminal justice to culinary arts to welding etc. Starting out at the school, I joined the financial services program. It was from there on, that my life took a complete 180 turn, and in the process, changed forever.
As a student at Eastland, I was completely blown away by what I experienced during my time there. As a school of 600 students with only junior and senior grade levels, the moment I began attending the school was the moment I became a part of an inviting community full of super driven and career focused students. Not only were the students amazing, but the faculty and staff at the school were top notch and were all so invested in every students future. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the financial services (FS) program, and learned so much about business which helped me decide early on that I wanted to go to college as an accounting major.
As a student at Eastland, I was completely blown away by what I experienced during my time there. As a school of 600 students with only junior and senior grade levels, the moment I began attending the school was the moment I became a part of an inviting community full of super driven and career focused students. Not only were the students amazing, but the faculty and staff at the school were top notch and were all so invested in every students future. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the financial services (FS) program, and learned so much about business which helped me decide early on that I wanted to go to college as an accounting major.
My FS program instructor was also focused on her students having the chance to exploit every opportunity possible which really brought out the spirit of competition within myself. Thanks to my instructor, I had the opportunity to attend the Accounting Careers Awareness Program (ACAP-Ohio) during the summer of 2013. This was a five day program devoted to expanding the knowledge of potential minority accounting students at the Fisher College of Business at Ohio State University. Around forty-five high school students from all Ohio had the chance to attended this event which only reaffirmed my decision that I wanted to become an accounting student in college. During my senior year of high school, I became much more active in the student organization, Business Professionals of America which is the organization that I believe has had the biggest impact on strengthening my skills and helping me reach my potential. During my time in the organization I took on multiple officer positions and also competed on a financial analyst team that placed first in the nation. I have much more to say about my experience with this organization which can be found on the 'Business Professionals of America' tab above.
Overall, while my time at Eastland was anything but a smooth transition (I almost quit the program during my junior year), the supportive school community kept me afloat as I aspired to become a successful high school student gaining momentum as I headed into college.
Overall, while my time at Eastland was anything but a smooth transition (I almost quit the program during my junior year), the supportive school community kept me afloat as I aspired to become a successful high school student gaining momentum as I headed into college.
There were many exciting and memorable moments that occurred during my senior year at Eastland Career Center.
Below are a few that stuck out the most.
Below are a few that stuck out the most.
Accounting Careers Awareness Program (ACAP - Ohio)
During the summer of 2013, I had the unique opportunity to participate in ACAP - Ohio. This five day program was one of the first experiences I have had that gave me an inside look at accounting careers, and the opportunity to network with accounting professionals. This quickly became one of the best programs I have ever been a part of as I was able to learn more than I ever anticipated about what it was like to be an accountant, and what I could expect if I chose to go down that career path. Through the program I met many people with similar interests as me, some of which I still see today. ACAP also included a case study competition that had the class of forty-five split up into various competitive teams that competed to create the best business plan. My team, named Mango Tango, won first place which was a truly memorable experience. Overall, the staff of ACAP - Ohio along with the student participants, truly made this a special program that I am so glad to have been a part of.
Passing Career-Tech Day Bill
Mid way into my senior year of high school, I had the exciting opportunity to help pass a bill for Ohio to celebrate a career-technical day in the month of March. This was such an amazing experience as I was able to testify with a speech to the State of Ohio Congressional Service. My speech consisted of my experiences as a career-tech student, and how I have grown thanks to being a part of Eastland Career Center. Two students from two schools were selected to present speeches, and when everything was all said and done, the bill passed unanimously.
Senior Graduation: Words of Wisdom Speech
During the end of my senior year, I was selected as one of two students to give a speech at the Eastland Career Center graduation. This was an experience of a lifetime as I was able to speak to my whole school about how we as students have such a bright future ahead of us and how by coming to Eastland, we are already headed down the path to success.