I attended Lakeville South High School last year I went through the district 194 schooling since kindergarten. They promoted academic excellence and that was about it. The required courses were all about reading information and spitting it back to them on the tests. It was easy. We took the required Science, Math, English, Health, History, and a foreign language of our choice. None of my classes really mattered to me it was just about getting that A.
Out of all the classes I took there were only three I was interested in English, photography, and Intro Drama. So I was taking classes and getting credits that would apiece college admission applications. But, there were no life skills learned. I just learned to read something and remember it for the test. Worse than that there was no passion no drive other than to get into a good college and some kids didn’t even have that. It was hollow Kids didn’t have any direction; their only goal was to make it to the weekend. I switched schools to peruse performing arts. I now attend St. Paul Conservatory for the Performing Arts (SPCPA). SPCPA offer’s arts classes every day in the student’s selected discipline mine is musical theatre. With all of the students there is a passion a drive a longing to perform we all want to do it. The students there have goals, dreams, and aspirations. It is a completely different world. There is a spark that comes with that aspiration to do something that you enjoy, it really lights up one’s life. I wish everyone could find that.
In order to help others find the spark that is present at SPCPA because the students there have found their passion. I think that a class should be offered in regular school helps you discover your passion. The class would help the students to learn about different jobs that are avaible. The class would show different avenues that students may want to peruse. It is a shame that the schools dedicate only a few days to college/life planning. How can we with so little knowledge of what is out there even begin to try and pick what we want to get a degree in? It is not only necessary to provide students with this information but a duty to our nations future leaders to help expand their horizons and let them learn what options they have.
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Lord willing, next year I will be attending a cross-cultural exchange program in Scotland! Sometimes our passion lies only one plane ticket away! I simply cannot wait!
Bekka Joy
Sounds like fun - good luck!!!