La’Chattie Smith
Features Editor
Books closed for a day at Southfield High as invited alumni returned to classrooms to speak candidly about college life.
Called “Reality Check,” the one-day annual event is designed to open the eyes of students about life after high school.
Counselor Patricia Yorke, who coordinates Reality Check, said, “It is important for alumni to come back and share their experiences because in the eyes of current students, the information the alumni share is more relevant to them than having their teachers, parents and counselors telling basically the same information,” Yorke said.
Matthew Browner (Class of 2010), a business major at Michigan State University, told students that college is rough and takes a lot of commitment. Browner said, “Being able to work and attend school teaches you to multitask.” He emphasized that “Your social life isn’t going to pay for your tuition. You must learn to separate your social life from your business and personal life.”
Eboni Person (Class of 2011), is double majoring in Journalism and Psychology at the University of Miami. Person spoke to students about final exams, telling them that they are indeed “rough and nothing like high school finals.” At Southfield High School, if you have an A average in a class, you are exempt from that semester’s final exam, however, at University of Miami, or any college for that matter, this is not the case. Most of a student’s grade in a college class relies on the final exam.
Person said she felt the greatest difference between high school and college, other than the workload, is that students have the opportunity to take classes that are related to their particular interests. “Nothing is forced,” said Person.
Yorke’s advice to all students is for them to get active while in high school. Clubs, organizations and sports are all set up to teach teamwork and leadership. She explained how she was shy in high school until she was placed in a speech class, which helped her develop great presentation skills. “The tougher the classes, the more prepared you will be for college,” Yorke said.
Each year more than 80 percent of Southfield High’s graduates head off to college. Yorke said she expects this year will be no different.
Angelica Brown (Class of 2010), attends the University of Michigan, but has yet to declare a major. Brown described her high school experience as fun, but said she was hardly ever on time, which she now realizes was a poor choice.
Brown said she chose to attend the University of Michigan, not because of its fancy name, but because attending the school is a family tradition. A lot of people get caught believing the carefree college life portrayed on TV, but Brown said, “College is intense. You think you know what to expect, but you really don’t.” She added that in high school “You must be open to listening, following instructions and interacting with others.”
Seneca Peters (Class of 2012) attends Michigan State University. She told students how after high school, friends separate. “Even if you and your friend go to the same college, the likelihood of actually seeing them is slim,” Peters said.
Alumnus Ahmad Terrell (Class of 2011) attends Oakland Community College to save tuition money while determining what he wants to major in. Terrell told students that in community college “The student to professor ratio is perfect. Coming straight out of high school, everyone won’t be prepared to be in a class with over 400 people where you’re a number. Compared to a university, community colleges are just smaller classrooms with the same lesson.”
Freshman Denia Maxwell said she learned something from Reality Check: “I liked that they were being real about their high school and college experiences.” She said, “I learned that college is really fun, but you have to put your mind into your work instead of just partying.”
Senior Leshun Walters said, “They (alumni) gave valuable information.”
Junior Dallas Sweeney said she learned a valuable lesson. “I enjoyed Reality Check this year. The stories that the girls shared with us were relatable. I learned that you can’t get too excited over the four-year hype (of college) because when it’s over, the real world will be waiting if you’re ready or not.”