I was in the high school a few weeks ago and struck up a conversation with one of our high school students. He was telling me how he passed his college entrance requirements to start in the aerospace academy at FHS next year. If you don’t know, this is one of our workforce training academies in the new high school. It offers students a high school diploma, FAA certification in aircraft construction, internship with a company like Lockheed-Martin and ultimately an Associates Degree from St. Phillips College.
I was so happy for him and he was happy for himself too! He talked about his plans after high school and the many opportunities this degree would offer him. He didn’t know it but he was exemplifying the main predictor of college success according to Gallup Scientist Shane Lopez. That predictor is hope! Hope is a belief that there is something out there for us in the future and if we just keep on trying, success will come. Gallup explains that hope is a better predictor of success than college entrance tests. Earlier this year, students from grades 5-12 took part in the Gallup Student Poll that measured levels of Hope, Well Being, and Engagement. Our schools ranked higher than both the state and nation.
Gallup Floresville Student Poll Results
As we enter TAKS season it is important that our students remain hopeful about their future. We have to get our kids to understand that a brighter future starts today! As the famous Journey song goes…”don’t stop believing.” Focusing on hope might just be the most important thing we can offer them. It is the same caring attitude that has brought us this far.
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